Empathy is sensing and sharing what another person is feeling. Who shows it? Here are some studies.

A vampire bat can share some of its blood meal. It shares with another bat in its colony.

A bat that found no food can beg. It begs another bat for blood. A small amount lets it live. It can hunt another day.

Asian elephants comfort other elephants. They do it when those elephants are upset. They use touch and sounds.

An elephant may put its trunk in another elephant's mouth. This is to calm it. A researcher compared this to a handshake or hug.

Pet dogs went up to a crying person. That was in a study. Dogs went to a crying stranger too. Not only to their owner.

Young chimpanzees helped a person who was reaching for something. They helped in easy tasks. They did not help in harder ones.

Toddlers who were 18 months old helped a grown-up. They had never met the grown-up. Nobody asked or rewarded the toddlers and chimpanzees for helping.

A free rat will open a trap door. It lets out a rat from its own cage. That rat is stuck inside.

After some days, rats opened the door with their heads. They did it fast.

One more finding is about you. A kind act for someone else can make you happier.

Words to know

• empathy: sharing feelings
• toddlers: very young kids
• stranger: someone new
• comfort: help feel better