The 'cute' factor.

• Position: BEHAVIOR

How has Tai Shan, a baby panda, attracted thousands of visitors to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., just to ooh and aah over him? Why are the stars of March of the Penguins so beguiling?

And why have sales of small cars like the Mini Cooper soared? Answer: They are all, in the eyes of most humans, cute. But just what are the ingredients for cuteness? Scientists who study visual signaling have identified a wide assortment of features that make something look cute. Among them are small size; bright, forward-facing eyes set low on a big, round face; a pair of big, round ears; floppy limbs; and a teeter-totter gait. Scientists say these "cute cues" indicate extreme youth, vulnerability...