Baboons learn to read

[Griffin NoName]

Baboons recognise words on a screen

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Pity the experiment didn't link specific words to real world objects (by giving the objects/treats to the animals) unless that's implied...

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Hardly surprising.  Dolphins have long since been shown capable of abstract symbol association with real-world objects, actions and events.

It should not come as a surprise that our simian cousins can do likewise.

[Sibling DavidH]

After all, even some trade-unionists can be trained to recognise simple symbols. 

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

After all, even some trade-unionists can be trained to recognise simple symbols. 

Are you sure?  Don't they have "people" for that?

[Opsa]

I, for one, welcome our primate overlords.

[Griffin NoName]

Jenny Clack reckons rodents will surpass us as the next successful inhabitants of Earth.

[Roland Deschain]

And our species becomes less unique every day. I love studies like this, because one day the evidence may be too much for the evolution deniers, and they'll finally be forced to admit defeat. Roll on 3023...

I, for one, welcome our primate overlords.

Whatever you say, Kent Brockman!

Jenny Clack reckons rodents will surpass us as the next successful inhabitants of Earth.

I watched that on the iPlayer. It was really enlightening, and I look forward to the following episodes. There have been some really good science programmes on the BBC iPlayer recently, and i've been watching them all.

[Swatopluk]

Jenny Clack reckons rodents will surpass us as the next successful inhabitants of Earth.

That's a major topic here

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GNYVYSM9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
I posted the title of the German edition because there you can see rat descendants hunting rabbit descendants (not on the title of the English original)

[Opsa]

I notice the word "HEEL" at the bottom of that title page, Swato. Is that what you're supposed to say to your giant rat when he tries to chase after the deer-rabbits?

[Swatopluk]

I think it rather implies that those are nazi rats (spelling and pronounciation may shift a bit in 50 million years)

[Aggie]

I've read that book; it's excellent.  Pure fantasy, of course, but rather believable given the premise (what will evolve from the types of animals able to survive the current mass extinction).

[Swatopluk]

There is also The Future is Wild in different versions (plus a cartoon series). That had input from Dixon.

Here for example is the squibbon from the cartoon version

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UBjjgF9Q-2Y/SStySeVJNtI/AAAAAAAAAB8/PP19yZ9oNbM/s320/squibbon-comp-colour1.jpg

and here is a sample from the (non cartoon) TV series
[youtube=425,350]KlcdTniNvHE[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlcdTniNvHE