Laughing Mice and Public Mayhem

When Ira Glass introduced one of his favorite radio shows, I should have paid more attention. Months later, I glimpsed an interview with the hosts of the show Radio Lab, Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich. It inspired me to look them up.

The episode on Laughter had me jumping for joy. They evaluate the human experience of laughter and debate its uniqueness to our species. They interview a psychobiologist* who has recorded what seems to be mouse laughter. The squeaks and "giggles" were recorded using instruments intended to pick up bat noises, which are beyond the human hearing range. The best part, though, is to get the mice to laugh, the biologist just tickles them with his finger. I couldn't help getting silly chills when I was listening to this show. When listening to the little mouse squeaks, I felt a rush of connection with all of earth life. But I'm also a terrible sentimentalist. Listen for yourself!

The episode on the War of the Worlds freak-out phenomena was ear-opening. It delved into factors which made the whole experience more believable for listeners who were not savvy to the story. While the incident in 1938 may be the most remembered, there were actually two other times when the H. G. Wells story, when broadcast over the radio for modern times, deceived people with some fatal consequences. It gave me more to think about with regards to the previous post.

* Some one who analyzes the biology of psychology ... not a mad scientist. =)