Cute attack - videos that will melt your heart and help you work too

Research has shown that watching a cute video or picture can actually increase your productivity at work, so there's your defence the next time you get caught looking at this:

- That's Professor BooBoo by the way.

An article on Live Science from 2012 describes how people who watch cute videos are actually more fine-tuned to detail and do their work more delicately. The study of all things heart-melting stems from Japan where the notion of kawaii (the Japanese word for cute) reigns supreme.

The concept of kawaii reveals that there is a criteria for what people think are cute. These are: big head in proportion to their body; big eyes and usually a small nose. We find a resemblance to babies within those soft eyes of a puppy or panda, which trigger care-giving impulses in our brains.

There's also some part of our mind that finds something downright adorable in animals that keep this "cute" criteria throughout their life.

Cute explained

So without further ado before I start getting to scientific, here are some of the top videos of 2014 that melted the world's heart.

Baby otter learns to swim

Probably one of the biggest "awwwww" videos was this orphaned baby otter's first time swimming. Speechless.

Munchkin on the treadmill

Munchkin the Shih Tzu is all dressed up in his teddy bear outfit looking like an Ewok, and he's ready for his walk on the treadmill. If you're feeling dangerous, put this on loop and the next thing you know it's Easter.

Yup, that got 4.5 million views.

Cleo the sleeping pitbull

Everyone loves a good nap, and Cleo the puppy isn't having any of this "waking up" business.

Baby bats

Yeah that's right, baby bats! Whoever woulda thunk it? But these little guys are actually pretty darn cute all wrapped up in their blankies.

Acer the miniature horse

Li'l Sebastian is real ya'll! This little guy's name is Acer and he stands at 22 inches tall, making him the smallest horse in Britain and a miniature size of a miniature horse.

Barry the tub-lovin' pug

Most dogs hate bath time, but not Barry the pug, he loves it!

You're welcome.