clipped from: blogs.usatoday.com   
When NPR visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, the broadcaster asked one of the scientists why these black and white bears are so popular with humans.

"Because they make you smile!" Zhang Zhihe, a leading panda researcher, tells NPR.

Watch the video. Did you smile?
clipped from: blogs.usatoday.com   
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This photo of two newborn panda cubs was taken Monday at the China Panda Protection and Research Center by China Daily via Reuters.

Their mother, an 8-year-old giant panda named Huamei, was born in the United States. She has given birth to three sets of twins since she returned to China in 2004.