2008 Woodie Awards
FAUX NEWS: Mouse language discovered; rodents demand exotic cheeses
Luke McIntyre
Issue date: 1/31/06 Section: Life
Mice are often the target of laboratory experiments, an age-old tradition of revenge for the Black Plague. While the more dangerous experiments involve needles and untested drugs, sometimes causing mice to burst like furry piñatas, others are somewhat mouse friendly. One such experiment was conducted by UNCG biology professor Matina Kalcounis-Rüppell last October. Kalcounis-Rüppell discovered that mice, in a way similar to bats, can communicate through ultrasonic chirping too high in frequency for humans to hear.
The experiment attempted to communicate with mice using a variety of sound levels, said Kalcounis-Rüppell. "First we tried a loud speaker, but that just scared the living hell out of them." After a long series of trial and error, and the creation of several miniature hearing aids, ultrasound was discovered by accident.
"One of my interns was listening to a Mariah Carey CD when we noticed the mice reacting. It didn't take us long to figure out that both the mice and Mariah Carey communicate at an ultrasonic level," said Kalcounis-Rüppell. "We were quite surprised to find out that they actually have a language. It's simple, and we were able to translate it quite quickly, but this is amazing."
In response to the Mariah Carey CD the mice, according to Kalcounis-Rüppell, were loudly repeating "Stop it, stop it, oh god you're killing us!" The chants were not translated in time and several mice took their own lives.
It was discovered that the group of mice have a leader; one that Kalcounis-Rüppell had earlier named Chuckles. With the help of a translating machine developed by the professor, Chuckles attempted to explain some of the misconceptions often associated with mice. For instance, Chuckles pointed out that mice aren't actually looking for cheese at the end of the maze. "Don't get me wrong, I like cheese," said the mouse. "But you put me in a maze. I don't want to be in a maze. I prefer being out of a maze. What did you expect me to do?"
The experiment attempted to communicate with mice using a variety of sound levels, said Kalcounis-Rüppell. "First we tried a loud speaker, but that just scared the living hell out of them." After a long series of trial and error, and the creation of several miniature hearing aids, ultrasound was discovered by accident.
"One of my interns was listening to a Mariah Carey CD when we noticed the mice reacting. It didn't take us long to figure out that both the mice and Mariah Carey communicate at an ultrasonic level," said Kalcounis-Rüppell. "We were quite surprised to find out that they actually have a language. It's simple, and we were able to translate it quite quickly, but this is amazing."
In response to the Mariah Carey CD the mice, according to Kalcounis-Rüppell, were loudly repeating "Stop it, stop it, oh god you're killing us!" The chants were not translated in time and several mice took their own lives.
It was discovered that the group of mice have a leader; one that Kalcounis-Rüppell had earlier named Chuckles. With the help of a translating machine developed by the professor, Chuckles attempted to explain some of the misconceptions often associated with mice. For instance, Chuckles pointed out that mice aren't actually looking for cheese at the end of the maze. "Don't get me wrong, I like cheese," said the mouse. "But you put me in a maze. I don't want to be in a maze. I prefer being out of a maze. What did you expect me to do?"
