Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall: Can You Reveal An Animal's Inner World At All?

Short Wave

NPR

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4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2020

⏱️ 11 minutes

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Summary

The mirror self-recognition test has been around for decades. Only a few species have what it takes to recognize themselves, while others learn to use mirrors as tools. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce talks us through mirror self-recognition and why Maddie's dog is staring at her.

For more science reporting and stories, follow Nell on twitter @nell_sci_NPR. And, as always, email us at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Shortwave from MPR.
0:04.4	Maddie, Sify here with MPR Science correspondent Nell Greenfield Boys.
0:09.0	Hi, now.
0:10.0	Hey, Maddie.
0:11.0	So 2020 is almost over.
0:13.0	Thank goodness.
0:14.0	Right.
0:15.0	And we need to talk about something kind of disturbing that we have both experienced
0:19.2	this year with my dog and your parakeet.
0:22.6	Okay.
0:23.6	I've told you again and again, it's not my parakeet.
0:26.0	It belongs to the kids.
0:27.3	Sure.
0:28.3	No, sure.
0:29.3	So since I've been working from home during the pandemic, I've spent a lot of time with
0:34.6	my dog and your dog is very cute.
0:37.0	Yes.
0:38.0	Thank you.
0:39.0	It keeps her alive.
0:40.0	And one day I noticed that she was watching me using the mirrors.
0:42.2	Like, I'd wake up, look in the mirror, and I would see her little border-colle face staring
0:48.0	intensely, not at herself, but me in the mirror.
	...

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