We have scientists to thank for an awful lot of things, but most recently they are responsible for abundance of adorable animal photos taking over social media.

It began with some bat-eared foxes and baby bears competing to be the world’s cutest baby animal. Things then escalated very quickly when a tiny sea turtle entered the competition, and also a squirrel glider. 

What's cuter than a squirrel glider? *crickets chirping in the backround* Correct–nothing! #CuteOff pic.twitter.com/MICj4Wa7OQ

— David M Watson (@D0CT0R_Dave) September 1, 2015

Then everything got very out of hand but we really really don’t want it stop.

#CuteOff @AnneWHilborn (part of research covered under a NOAA/FWS ESA permit) pic.twitter.com/Z5s6i1FlYj

— David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) September 1, 2015

 

No animal #cuteoff is complete without baby bobcats from the @SantaMonicaMtns http://t.co/AssWVupzvg #mammalwatching pic.twitter.com/VNMxMiXO2Y

— Jason G. Goldman (@jgold85) September 1, 2015

Competitors are not just limited to small animals either:

@AlongsideWild this is the wild iPhone-tasting-baby-polo-pony in its natural habitat. #foal. #yum pic.twitter.com/swOM0iVYeI

— H. Hall (@co_pony) September 1, 2015

Even the non-fluffy types are vying for attention.

#CuteOff certainly needs some piscine representatives pic.twitter.com/f825Q23Ey6

— Fluvial Fishes Lab (@donaldorth) August 31, 2015

We honestly didn’t know baby fish were capable of being this adorable.

This #CuteOff needs moar inverts: The #SQUEEE is strong in this freshly-hatched little #cuttlefish, Sepiola atlantica pic.twitter.com/gA3QwC1hVW

— Carina M. Gsottbauer (@CarinaDSLR) August 31, 2015

This might be one of the best trends yet.

I present you Pteromys momonga, as my entry into this #CuteOff contest. http://t.co/cPc2rtCnuH pic.twitter.com/JecnCEo9Ba

— Benjamin Burger (@benjamin_burger) September 1, 2015