Dolphins can think like humans, study shows
GRASSY KEY, Fla. – A dog may be man’s best friend, but dolphins can imitate human actions, and even how they solve problems.
When a dolphin has one of its senses blocked, it can use other senses to mimic a human’s movements, according to a recent study.
A bottlenose dolphin named Tanner was blindfolded and instructed to mimic the actions of a trainer in the water with him.
When Tanner wasn’t able to use sight to figure out the movement, he switched to another technique: emit sounds, listen to the echo and interpret the resulting sound waves. This ability – known as echolocation — allowed Tanner to replicate movements by the trainer, such as spinning in the water.
The study, conducted at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys, expands on previous studies looking at how dolphins are able to imitate other dolphins while he was blindfolded.
Fort Hood attorneys leave to work on appeal
FORT HOOD, Texas – Attorneys being forced to advise the soldier accused in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage were allowed to leave his trial on Friday so they could prepare an appeal arguing that the Army psychiatrist was angling for a death sentence.
Military lawyers ordered to help Maj. Nidal Hasan as he represents himself argue that he’s using a “repugnant” defense strategy that violates their rules of professional conduct. When the judge refused to scale back their duties or let them take over Hasan’s defense, they said they would seek the help of a higher court.
Hasan is accused of killing 13 people at the Texas military base, but he has largely remained silent during the trial.
Associated Press
