Wednesday, August 24, 2005; C15
· When you look in the mirror, you recognize your own image. (Don't you?) When a capuchin monkey looks in a mirror, it's not sure what's looking back, a study of animal self-awareness says. In tests at Georgia's Emory University, 14 capuchins were each shown three images: a familiar monkey behind a glass screen, an unfamiliar monkey behind the screen and its own reflection in a mirror.
Are you looking at me? . . . Capuchin monkeys seem somewhat self-aware.
Photo Credit: Yerkes Primate Center
The test subjects had little or no reaction to the familiar monkeys. Shown an unfamiliar monkey, male capuchins made threatening gestures and the females looked nervous -- both natural reactions.
But when the monkeys looked in a mirror, the males were confused and distressed, while the females flirted with themselves.
Researchers said the study, reported in Science News for Kids, shows that capuchins have some self-awareness. Other researchers said capuchins might not like copycats any better than kids do.
Learning About Fast Food· Is there a fast-food restaurant near your school?
Nearly 80 percent of Chicago schools studied had at least one within a half mile, Harvard's School of Public Health has found. That number, higher than expected, caused researchers to ask whether schools are being targeted by fast-food chains.
A McDonald's spokesman said his company does not target schools but looks for sites where people gather.
Fast food has been blamed for contributing to the country's weight problem. Sixteen percent of U.S. kids and 22 percent of adults are seriously overweight.
Honoring the Champs· It's been a whirlwind week for McLean's softball champions. After beating a Connecticut team, 6-2, Thursday in the Little League World Series in Oregon, the girls were honored with a picnic here and an invitation to a hockey game from Capitals owner Ted Leonsis. And today they are scheduled to appear on the 5:50 p.m. sports segment of the WRC-TV (Channel 4) news show.
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