Anthropomorphism: how much humans and animals share is still contested

Cute internet videos and animals in children's entertainment with human-like intentions can be useful, harmful or both - depending on whom you ask

Humans have long attempted to portray the natural world as reflections of us, from giving storms names such as Desmond or Katrina to putting tasteful blue clothing on Donald Duck and Peter the Rabbit. But the science of how much humans actually share with other animals is still keenly contested.

The widely shared image of a male kangaroo cradling the head of a dying female, in front of her joey, was immediately cast as a touching display of marsupial grief, before several scientists pointed out that the kangaroo's interests were probably a little more carnal than first thought.