Can you imagine what it's like to be a wild animal or your pet. Tricky, right? It's easy to fall into the trap of imagining your own emotions and senses in an animal's body, but the reality would surely be very different. For starters, the mind of an octopus or a pigeon is very different to that of a human. Scientists would like to know how creatures experience the world and, when they talk about it, they use the word "consciousness".
What is consciousness?
The first big problem is that many experts disagree on the exact definition of consciousness, which can make research quite difficult. How can you prove something exists if you're not exactly sure what it is? Consciousness is a word that, broadly, relates to the way humans and animals experience the world.
Some people think being conscious means having experiences that are influenced by your thoughts and feelings what they call subjective experiences.
To understand what this is, it's helpful to imagine
Bees having a ball
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Denne historien er fra Issue 80-utgaven av The Week Junior Science+Nature UK.
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Camera Obscura
Imagine stepping inside a dark room, where the only source of light comes through one small hole in the wall.
MANCHESTER SCIENCE FESTIVAL
From 18-27 October, shoppers at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester, England, will face a giant spider.
Should musicians stop touring?
Multiple concerts travelling around the world have a big impact on the environment.
Are ghosts real?
Plenty of people believe in ghosts, but it's hard to find proof.
SMASH STEREOTYPES
In an extract from his prize-winning book, scientist and writer Adam Rutherford shows you how to use the power of science to fight racism. This chapter, titled Myth-Busting, is all about sport.
Animal awareness
What would it feel like to be another animal?
Hamza Yassin
Go behind the camera with a wildlife filmmaker.
WILDLIFE WATCH
Ben Hoare goes on a safari from his sofa to discover how nature documentaries are made.
Big bum breakthrough
A team of researchers who found out that mammals can breathe through their bottoms have won a prize at the lg Nobel awards.
A jaw-dropping undersea snap
A photograph of a Bryde's whale feeding on a heart-shaped \"bait ball\" of sardines has won the Ocean Photographer of the Year contest.
