Zoologist Arik Kershenbaum from the University of Cambridge, author of 'Why Animals Talk,' explores the fascinating world of animal communication. He highlights how wolf howls and dolphin whistles reveal the intricate social dynamics of various species. Kershenbaum discusses dolphins’ musical preferences and the impressive vocalizations of hyrax, showcasing their structured communication. He also challenges the limits of our understanding of animal language and encourages a deeper appreciation for these complex interactions, bridging them to human language.

If extraterrestrial life is out there — not just microbial slime, but big, complex, macroscopic organisms — what will they be like? Movies have trained us to think that they won’t be that different at all; they’ll even drink and play music at the same cafes that humans frequent. A bit of imagination, however, makes us wonder whether they won’t be completely alien — we have zero data about what extraterrestrial biology could be like, so it makes sense to keep an open mind. Arik Kershenbaum argues for a judicious middle ground. He points to constraints from physics and chemistry, as well as the tendency of evolution to converge toward successful designs, as reasons to think that biologically complex aliens won’t be utterly different from us after all.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Arik Kershenbaum received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology from the University of Haifa. He is currently College Lecturer and Director of Studies at Girton College, University of Cambridge. He is the author of The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal About Aliens — and Ourselves.Web siteCambridge web pageGoogle Scholar publicationsAmazon author pageTwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Arik Kershenbaum, a zoologist and lecturer at the University of Cambridge, explores the fascinating world of animal communication. He reveals how dolphins use signature whistles much like names and discusses wolves' unique vocal accents. Kershenbaum also delves into the complex social interactions and learning methods of animals, emphasizing their rich emotional lives. The conversation sheds light on how understanding these communications can enhance our grasp of both animal identities and the evolution of human language.