Farm animals show their smarts, and how honeyguide birds lead humans to hives

A look at cognition in livestock, and the coevolution of wild bird–human cooperation

This week we have two stories on thinking and learning in animals. First, Online News Editor David Grimm talks with host Sarah Crespi about a reporting trip to the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology in northern Germany, where scientists are studying cognition in farm animals, including goats, cows, and pigs. And because freelance audio producer Kevin Caners went along, we have lots of sound from the trip—so prepare yourself for moos and more.

Voices in this story:

Christian Nawroth

Annkatrin Pahl

Jan Langbein

Next, audio producer Katherine Irving talks with Claire Spottiswoode, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Cambridge, about her research into cooperation between honeyguide birds and human honey hunters. In their Science study, Spottiswoode and her team found honeyguides learn distinct signals made by honey hunters from different cultures suggesting that cultural coevolution has occurred.

Read a related Perspective.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi; David Grimm; Katherine Irving

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.zr3zfn1