Episode 103: What are animals trying to tell us? (With Arielle Duhaime-Ross)
Researchers in the 1970s reported that they taught a young chimp, named Nim Chimpsky, to use sign language.
Humans have been trying to communicate with non-human animals for thousands of years. We have stories about magical talking animals, and tales of scientists who use technology to turn wild dolphins into friendly co-workers. What do these stories say about us, and what happens when we try to make them come true? Also, science reporter Arielle Duhaime-Ross joins us to talk about their latest podcast, which is all about teaching apes to use sign language.
Citations, links, & etc.!
Planet of the Apes
Rocket Raccoon
The Story of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting
Doctor Dolittle, starring Eddie Murphy (1998)
Seaquest DSV, created by Rockne S. O'Bannon (1993)
A good introduction to Cordwainer Smith’s underpeople is the collection We the Underpeople
The Island of Doctor Moreau, by H.G. Wells
The Island of Lost Souls, dir. Erle Kenton (1932)
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia
WE3, by Grant Morrison
Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
Hunca Munca the mouse stars in the Beatrix Potter’s book A Tale of Two Bad Mice
Watership Down, by Richard Adams
Maus, by Art Spiegelman
Koko’s Kitten, by Francine Patterson