Made For Each Other

Exploring how people and animals bond--and why it makes you healthier and happier.

Meg Daley Olmert is documentary producer and the author of Made For Each Other, The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond. See full bio

June 17, 2009

The Chinese Are Going to the Dogs--Thank Goodness.

Can dogs keep China from becoming a nation of spoiled brats? The Chinese take a new look at pet-keeping and childrearing. Read More

May 14, 2009

Scat No More—The Temperamental Journey, From Prey to Predator to Domesticator Extraordinaire

Archeologists digging in a cave in South Africa found prehistoric human hair that may be 250,000 years old. The strands came from the head of someone who was having the ultimate bad hair day. It was found in the fossilized dung of an equally ancient brown hyena. Read More

April 14, 2009

The Hug Felt Round the World

What happened when Michelle Obama hugged the Queen of England?

a. Her hand turned to ice
b. The Royal Guard wrestled her to the floor
c. Phillip fainted
d. The Queen felt a mysterious compulsion to return the gesture Read More

April 2, 2009

The Biology of the Horse Boy

Horse Boy is the story about how a horse freed a boy from the chains of autism. This post examines why some journeys can still only be made on the back of a horse. Read More

March 20, 2009

On the Shoulders of Giants

As huge blocks of western culture calve away, The New York Times is waxing nostalgic for another time of great change in an editorial on horse domestication. At first it may seem downright odd, but their curiosity about the mysterious "something" that allowed humans and horses to merge zeroes in on the only way to survive a changing global climate-cooperation. Read More

March 17, 2009

Drawing Attention

Start doodling and pay attention! Wait! That's not how it goes. Well, according to psychologist Jackie Andrade, teachers are going to have to change their tune because doodling actually helps keep a bored mind alert and attentive. Read More

Animal Behavior Basics

Pets are among life's greatest joys; they can also be our greatest teachers. The study of animal behavior is a cornerstone of experimental psychology, shedding light on complex human emotions. And pets have a unique therapaeutic hold over humans, especially people who are socially isolated or who are coping with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.

Go to the Animal Behavior Basics page for more on Animal Behavior including:

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