Ep 2. So Human, So Chimp

In episode two of The Human Spark, titled "So Human, So Chimp," host Alan Alda explores the similarities and differences between human and chimpanzee behavior and cognition.

The episode begins at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Central Washington University, where Alda observes researchers attempting to teach sign language to a group of chimpanzees. Through footage of the chimps' interactions with their trainers, Alda highlights the complex and sophisticated communication abilities of these animals. He also discusses the genetic similarities between chimpanzees and humans, pointing out that we share over 98% of our DNA.

Moving on from communication, Alda explores other areas of chimpanzee behavior that overlap with human behavior. He visits Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where Jane Goodall famously studied chimpanzees in the wild, and observes the animals' tool use. Alda notes that while chimps primarily use branches and sticks for tool-making, they have been known to use other materials like leaves and even their own saliva to aid in certain behaviors.

Alda also examines the social structures of chimpanzee groups, which are remarkably similar to those of human societies. He notes that chimpanzee communities are based on familial relationships and that these animals form close bonds with one another, often grooming each other as a way of cementing social ties.

Throughout the episode, Alda highlights the ways in which human beings differ from chimpanzees, despite our shared genetic heritage. He discusses the evolution of the human brain, which is much larger and more complex than the chimp brain, and notes the many ways in which humans have harnessed this complexity to achieve remarkable feats of creativity and innovation.

Alda also notes that while chimpanzees are capable of displaying a wide range of emotions, including complex emotions like love and grief, they do not possess the same kind of self-awareness that humans do. He discusses the concept of the "mirror test," which measures an animal's ability to recognize itself in a mirror, and notes that while chimpanzees can pass a modified version of this test, they do not display the same kind of self-consciousness that humans do.

Overall, "So Human, So Chimp" is a fascinating exploration of the similarities and differences between human and chimpanzee behavior. Through his interactions with experts in the field and his observations of these animals in the wild and in captivity, Alda provides viewers with a deeper understanding of the ways in which our own evolutionary history is intertwined with that of our primate relatives.