Courtesy of Nigel R. Franks and Tom Richardson, University of Bristol

Feb. 8, 2006

Teacher! Teacher!

News item: Researchers have discovered that certain ants can teach other ants the route to a food source—the first evidence of true teaching among animals other than people. In the photo (above), a Temnothorax albipennis ant that knows where food lies (right, with red paint) is teaching the way to an inexperienced forager (left, dabbed with white).

Sohn, Emily. 2006. Professor ant. Science News for Kids (Jan. 18).
Milius, Susan. 2006. Little professor: Ants rank as first true animal teachers. Science News 169(Jan. 14):20.

Ants as teachers? That's not so strange when you consider the criteria that biologists use to define what teaching is. First, the individual who is teaching does something less well than they would normally do. This is like one of your teachers misspelling a word on purpose, then asking you to help correct it. Second, students of a true teacher learn faster than they would by themselves. The researchers who studied the ants added one more: There was feedback between teacher and student. They discovered that the student ant used its antennae to keep in touch with its teacher, letting the teacher know, for example, how quickly to walk ahead.

What, you may ask, does this have to do with science fiction?

Remember that a science fiction writer looks at something in science, such as an invention or a discovery, and asks "What if . . . ?" The writer takes known science and looks a bit further, pokes around, shakes the edges. "What if . . . " questions can be useful as well as fun. For example, a "what if . . ." question based on the discovery that ants teach each other might be about other animal teachers. What if cockroaches taught each other where the food in your kitchen is? This question might lead to ideas about how to stop cockroaches from being good teachers. Or, what if a parrot needs a teacher of its own kind to learn how to behave normally as an adult? This question might lead to ideas about how to better care for pets.

Challenge: Speculating about Animal Teachers

1. Pick an animal that interests you. It could be a pet or something that is found only wild.
2. Research that animal's behavior, looking for signs that it might teach others of its own kind. Remember the biological criteria:
1. In front of a student, a teacher does something less well than normally.
2. A student learns to do something more quickly with a teacher than alone.
3. Student and teacher interact in some way.
3. List the "what if . . . " questions that occur to you about this animal and teaching.
4. Pick the question that seems most important or interesting to you. Think about where the answer might lead. Would it change how we treat this kind of animal? Would it change how we think about this animal? Why or why not?

If you wish, send your favorite "What if . . . " question about animal teachers to us at scifizone@snkids.com or use the form below. If we use your question, you may be eligible to win a prize! Please include your first name, age, city or town, and state. If you are under 13 years old, get your parent's permission to write to us.

This week's recommended scifi books

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