I'm sure you've heard of the saying "when pigs fly", right? It usually refers to something that is highly unlikely to ever happen.
I'm not saying that pigs can fly but what if they could do something just as seemingly impossible, like play video games?
Well they can now. Sorta.
It's no secret that pigs are highly intelligent, but a study released recently has revealed that they're capable of playing video games with their cute little snouts.
The study, done by Purdue animal behavior specialist Candace Croney and cognition expert Sarah Boysen examined the cognitive processes of pigs.
The paper showcases two Yorkshire pigs - Hamlet and Omelet, alongside two micro pigs, Ebony and Ivory.
IMAGE: CNET
The experiment carried out taught the pigs how to manipulate a joystick to play a video game.
"Each pig performed the tasks well above chance, indicating the animal understood that the movement of the joystick was connected to the cursor on the computer screen," the researchers said in a statement.
The pigs were rewarded with food for playing the game properly, but also responded to verbal encouragement.
IMAGE: CNET
However, the study also found that the pigs "failed to meet certain criteria used for primates to demonstrate full mastery of the concept."
The researchers attribute this to the design of the experiment, which didn't necessarily cater to animals of "limited dexterity" such as pigs. This means they're likely to use a touchscreen next time.
Either way, this means I might have to up my game because I'm sure a pig will beat me at video games soon.
Read more about animals:
South Korea is now testing pet cats and dogs for COVID-19
Scientists finally figured out why wombats poop cubes. Thank heavens.
20 underwater photos that illuminate creatures dwelling in the dark depths
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