## Gifted Dogs Learn by Eavesdropping Some dogs, referred to as "Gifted Word Learners," have the ability to learn new words simply by eavesdropping on their owners' conversations. A study has shown that these dogs can identify new toys after hearing their names in a conversation, even without specific training. Researchers provided the dogs with new toys, which the owners named in conversations not directed at the animals. The dogs were then able to identify the toys by name, at a rate significantly higher than chance. This suggests that some dogs possess sociocognitive skills comparable to those of young toddlers. "Because dogs are neophilic and often get excited by new toys, we gave them ample opportunities to interact with the toys without hearing their labels," the researchers explained. ## Jellyfish Sleep A study examined the sleep cycles of the jellyfish *Cassiopea andromeda* and the anemone *Nematostella vectensis*, finding that they have sleep habits similar to those of humans. Both species require about eight hours of sleep per day, and *C. andromeda* jellyfish also take an afternoon nap. The research suggests that sleep has evolved in all animals with a nervous system to help repair damaged DNA. ## Other Astronomical News Astronomers have spotted a new type of cosmic object, a starless clump of dark matter called Cloud-9, located about 14 million light years away. This is the first RELHIC (Reionization-Limited H I Cloud) candidate ever discovered, providing support for the Lambda cold dark matter (ฮ›CDM) standard cosmological model. WOH G64, one of the largest known stars, is nearing its death. A new study suggests that the recent dimming of the star may be influenced by a companion star in orbit, making it a binary system. When WOH G64 explodes, the supernova could be visible to the naked eye from Earth, despite its location outside the Milky Way.