Transcript:
rj: Verne, what will a genuine extraterrestrial look like? verne: probably not like E.T. from the movie. hammy: ahhh...he was cute. cuteness isn't really a useful evolutionary adaptation. p-pop!! verne: Even for squirrels. hammy: oopsy whoopsy....
How can it not be? It works well for animals that evolve alongside humans and other life that may find them appealing and childlike in their own species nature.
Heck polls show people think most young animals are cuter than human babies.