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Human Laughter Up To 16 Million Years Old

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-pierolapithecus-catalaunicus-walks-into-a-bar dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Published today in the journal Current Biology, a new study shows that laughter is not a unique human trait, but a behavior shared by all great apes. Tickle a baby chimpanzee and it will giggle just like a human infant. This is because laughter evolved millions of years ago in one of our common ancestors, say scientists."

5 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. The monsters! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They tickled three human babies for this experiment.

    1. Re:The monsters! by Goldberg's+Pants · · Score: 5, Funny

      Human Laughter Up To 16 Million Years Old

      That's funny, because so are the gags on "According to Jim".

  2. Imagine being a comic... by SupremoMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    16 million and 1 years ago? Talk about a tough crowd... and no booze or blow to help take the edge off.

  3. Re:hmmm by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

    After all these years, creationists are still resorting to the same strawman arguments. I guess changing their tactics over time to be more successful would be hypocritical.

  4. I want that job by psnyder · · Score: 4, Funny

    A: So what do you do for a living?
    B: I tickle orangutan babies and then write about it.