Allman was searching for a peculiar kind of brain cell that he suspects is a key to how the African elephant—like a human being—manages to stay attuned to the ever-shifting nuances of social interplay ...

It is time now for our science news roundup from Short Wave, NPR's science podcast. And I am joined by the show's two hosts, Regina Barber and Emily Kwong. Hello. EMILY KWONG, BYLINE: Hi, Scott.

An elephant never forgets, the saying goes. They certainly have remarkable brains, with about three times as many neurons as we have. Anatomically, their brains look like a caricature of ours. The ...