Animals with edible eyeballs12/10/2023 ![]() ![]() They’re really similar – practically identical, in fact. What could we possibly have in common? Well, our eyeballs. On the face of it, two completely different animals. Evolutionary branches moving towards each other. We call this phenomenon “ convergent evolution”. That’s why species which are completely unrelated genetically can turn out to have much more in common than we thought. Because where we once saw evolution as a mad artist, spewing out completely new forms of life endlessly and at random, it is becoming increasingly clear that evolution is also something else: a handyman coming up with similar solutions to similar problems. But nowadays, biologists just think: makes sense. ![]() And when in cages, they come up with new words in human lingo.įor the longest time, each new discovery like this took us by surprise. Parrots also have language – they name their chicks, tell each other where to get the best fruit. Crustaceans feel pain, too – they learn from it, Apes plan, too – they gather stones to crack open nuts they haven’t found yet. Advancing scientific insight leaves us fewer and fewer “unique human qualities”. We feel pain, we invented the iPhone.īut that’s just not how it is. We have consciousness, culture, language, morality. Evolution produced a staggering array of amazing forms of life, and then there’s us, the absolute pinnacle, all the way up there all alone. Since ancient times, humanity has looked at life through a hierarchical lens, with men on top. Great news! We’re a lot less alone than we think. ![]()
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