Feature Animals

Animals give clues to the origins of human number crunching

In zoos and barnyards, scientists search for deep evolutionary underpinnings of mathematics

cat with abacus

NUMBER SMARTS  Cats show quantity-­related abilities. Without training, cats can pick out differences between groups of a few small objects, such as 2 versus 5, but the felines may be using visual shortcuts.

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By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

When Christian Agrillo runs number-related experiments in his lab, he wishes his undergraduate subjects good luck.