We're Not Alone
 

Excellent article in this past Sunday's NY Times Magazine on a study done in a Baja lagoon with gray whales and humans and interspecies communications.

It seems that the gray whales are actively socializing with humans in the calving area, even bringing their young boatside to see the researchers

Recent studies on their brain structure show that they have large concentrations of spindle cells - neurons that are responsible for functions like complex language, self-awareness, compassion, grieving, etc - that were once thought to be associated only with humans and some of the higher primates. Some species have been found to have a total brain mass of 19 pounds

Plus, they have a 15 million year jump on us in terms of evolution.

Really good read - the article is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/ma...2whales-t.html

Unfortunately, the Japanese only have a brain mass of 7 lbs and their researchers are into collecting "specimens" for "research".

Ahhh, but they don't have the Opposable Thumb :btu:

Tell the whales to check back in 15 million years and see if they have the necessary digits to shake three times after taking a leak :uhuh:

C'mon, Boss, you know that they won't stop at three...

any more than that would be uncivilized :grins:

You're right, Cap - which would also render them incapable of texting, but it appears that they're too intelligent for it already...:hihi:

no one has built them an underwater i pod

Any species that can almost be eradicated by people from New Bedford can't be all that advanced.

Brilliant!
 

:rotflmao:

"It seems that the gray whales are actively socializing with humans in the calving area, even bringing their young boatside to see the researchers "

Yeah, that's the equivilent of us showing our children a picture of a drug addict/pusher and saying "Stay away from these!!!"

Any mammal hung like a whale can't be all bad.
(Blue whales' "harpoons" are 10 feet long and 4 feet wide at the base. The mate by floating belly up on the surface and use it like an elephants trunk! Another amazing nature special my sister will never forget seeing.)

ROFLMFAO:rotf2::rotf2: