Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Animal Intelligence

Photo: Cat staring straight aheadPhoto: Cat staring straight ahead


The CIA and other government operations have been training animals as spies for a long time. Pigeons trained to deliver secret messages, hawks trained to record conversations, and even dolphins trained to transport nuclear weapons underwater. Animals had their part in the Cold War. Some even argue that animal spies were better than human or robot ones. For instance, animals are more inconspicuous than a gun wielding robot, or some guy in a trench coat. Others argue that animals don't have the brain power to make the mistakes that a human spy might. Some that are against this idea say that animals brainpower constricts them more than it befits them. That probably isn't true, but, you know people. When they get their minds stuck on something, they just won't let it go. 

2 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed the latest Smithsonian magazine :)

    Another argument against using animals for military purposes is that the animals can't consciously agree to put themselves in danger, the way people can volunteer. What do you think of that?

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  2. Sorry about the funky picture, I was doing it from the computer lab at school, not the best computers there.

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