Say hello to your little friend, even if your friend happens to be a bee or a wasp. They might just understand what you’re saying, at least according to one group of scientists who recently signed the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness. They have spent years studying what they refer to as animal cognition, a recognition that animals don’t act purely out of instinct, but actually have thoughts, make choices, and have the capacity for affection and other emotions. Many also retain memories that appear to influence their future choices, such as octopuses who avoid places where they were previously injured. Even bees have been observed engaging in what appears to be playful behavior not related to seeking food, reproduction, or maintenance of their hives. Some of us who aren’t scientists of any sort are no doubt wondering what took them so long to figure this out. (NBC News)
Scientists Are Claiming That Most Animals – Even Insects
