Why the social brain is the most intelligent brain Dolphins and humans have not shared a common ancestor for tens of millions of years. Yet for all the seeming estrangement of lives lived in liquid, when they see us they often come to play, and we can recognize in those eyes that someone very special is […]
Dolphins
Woo-woo; Whale Magic?
“When you lock eyes with them, Ken Balcomb says, “you get the sense that they’re looking at you.It’s a steady gaze. And you feel it. Much more powerful than a dog looking at you. A dog might want your attention. The whales, it’s a different feeling. It’s more like they’re searching inside you. There’s a […]
What is Intelligence?
Comparing cognition in humans and other animals “When a worm is suddenly illuminated,” Charles Darwin wrote, it “dashes like a rabbit into its burrow.” But if you keep scaring it, the worm stops withdrawing. Such apparent learning suggested to Darwin “the presence of a mind of some kind.” Watching as worms evaluated the suitability of […]
A surprise for you on the beach
(CNN) Millions of Americans are flocking to the shore this summer, seeking stunning seascapes and beaches to refresh their hearts and minds. For most, the sea will be a beautiful backdrop. But for scientists and conservationists, the view of the water brings hope and a reason to feel patriotic. Protections that America has put in […]
Humpback Whale Feeding Frenzy
Every August the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) hosts a fantastic overnight whale watching expedition off Montauk, NY to the Great South Channel. An excellent alternative to aquariums, CRESLI’s team is focused on education and research, using whale watching tours as platforms to collect data about the wild populations of animals encountered on […]
Here’s What Would Happen If Animals Could Talk
One century ago in the 1915 trenches of World War I, a young engineer named Hugh Lofting was moved by the sufferings of innocent horses and mules drafted into the horrifying vortex of human destruction. Needing something to say in letters home to his small children, he invented a certain doctor to minister to the […]