The Human Spark | So Human, So Chimp | Monkey Business | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/humanspark Alan Alda visits Yale University's Laurie Santos at a small Caribbean island where she is studying rhesus monkeys' ability to steal grapes... and read minds.

In "The Human Spark," Alan Alda visits dozens of scientists on three continents -- and even undergoes an examination of his own brain -- to find the answer to one question: What makes us human? Coming to PBS over three Wednesdays: January 6, 13, and 20, 2010 (check local listings). Learn more, and tell us what YOU think makes us human at http://www.pbs.org/humanspark

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Human Spark
• Alan Alda
• Laurie Santos
• monkeys
• rhesus monkeys
• monkey island
• evolution

[johncrwarner]

The question then becomes what is the effect of a person wearing a mask on the back of their head so that there are "eyes" on the monkey and it is not responding to the motion.

[TaxEvasion]

monkey at 2:10 = OM nom nom nom nom!!

wish these were full length episodes

[websnarf]

@MrTomRogan "Permission" would be a much more sophisticated concept for a mere monkey to understand.

[MrTomRogan]

Maybe the monkey just associates the turn with permission..

[gottspieler]

pause at 2 mins in..mmmmmmm

[clontsdollie]

wonderful clip .. thanks for posting

[walkertexasranger33]

adam corolla?

[blugularis]

@TaxEvasion it is full length on the PBS website, donations accepted, of course

[PrimitiveByNature]

@johncrwarner Well it doesn't always keep you safe from tigers so I would assume the monkeys would figure it out pretty quick

[wowamonn]

The Teacher is hot.

[pizzapingvin]

I cannot believe they get payed for this... Even with dog or cats you can see that they are checking your eyes out and know if you are looking at them and use that to their advantage or for whatever reason...

[dumb7890]

cats ,dogs, birds , lizards ,cows ,horses,snakes and about every thing knows when it is beeing watched why would a monkey not corrner some prey then turn your back and see what happens