The Human Spark | Brain Matters | Social Networks | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/humanspark At Oxford University, Alan Alda finds out from Robin Dunbar how human social networks compare to those of chimps, and at Yale University, watches babies as young as three months old pick cooperative puppets over those that won't play.

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
• Robin
• Dunbar
• brain
• cooperation
• chimps
• chimpanzees
• children

[stuffsux]

2 people are pissed off jesus freaks

[chiparoo222]

interesting reading the below remarks made by talking baboons

[nappaa]

@MrAndrewWaters Maybe so but if the researchers weren't retarded they switched the bunnies for half the kids to make the colors not matter. You'd have to read the study paper to find out. And if that's not good enough you could repeat the study and perhaps disprove it. That would earn you fame even outside the Internet. That's how science works.

[nkelly1432]

The capitalist system destroys social mobility by rewarding sociopaths.

[MrAndrewWaters]

or maybe she likes the color orange more than green..

[caycug1]

I'm glad that my mother didn't make me participate in psychology experiments, especially with people that don't have a clue.

[MassiveRodent]

@SirRyanScarff Monkeys probably wouldn't understand the concept of playing ball...or puppets...

[SirRyanScarff]

WHY didnt they do the puppet thing with monkies? that would start an intersting discovery; assuming of course the monkies could hold still long enough of their own will it would start a much better series of questions/answers imo.

[Imprezziveness]

Hmm...the orange one seems to move more...I think I like that one too

[Arcanerain]

This is like the monkeysphere, right?