In JASA Express Letters, researchers set out to understand the acoustics behind "aegyo," the playful cuteness put on by adults to win someone’s affection. They discovered that speakers were increasing their formant frequencies when speaking with aegyo, suggesting they changed their voices to make it sound like they had a shorter vocal tract. This imitates a childlike voice, possibly eliciting a protective response from others and strengthening social bonds.

What if dolphins are listening in on their prey—and their prey are listening right back? Researchers spent two months eavesdropping on dolphins along Florida’s Atlantic coast, using an autonomous wave glider to capture their underwater sounds and clues about where they socialize and hunt. The study revealed distinct acoustic hotspots where dolphins gathered and socialized, and where they hunted in areas rich with sound-producing fish. The findings open a fascinating new question: Are dolphins and their prey listening to—and potentially responding to—each other?