A study led by Queen Mary University of London reveals that goats can distinguish between human facial expressions and actively prefer interacting with happy faces. Published in Royal Society Open Science, the research involved showing 20 pairs of goats unfamiliar human faces displaying both positive and negative emotions.⁠ ⁠ The goats consistently spent more time exploring and approaching the smiling images, often using their snouts to engage with the "happy" photos. This discovery is significant because it suggests that the ability to read human emotional cues is not exclusive to companion animals like dogs or horses, but may be widespread among various livestock species.⁠ ⁠ _____⁠ ⁠ The experiment, conducted at a sanctuary in Kent, found that goats particularly favored happy faces when placed on the right side of their arena, indicating they likely use the left hemisphere of their brains to process positive emotions. Researchers believe these findings have major implications for how...