Shadowwynd
Shadowwynd t1_j9t68zj wrote
Reply to comment by grandtheftbonsai in Do all thinking creatures on Earth use neurons? Does an example of non-neuron based biological "intelligence" exist? by Wun_Weg_Wun_Dar__Wun
Slime molds can also solve advanced mazes. I would posit this is intelligent behavior - problem solving - without neurons. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7YWbY7kWesI&feature=share
There is also the researcher who built a roller coaster for her mimosa plants - the first few times the plants freaked out and closed up, then they realized “no biggie” and were fine with it - at some level they learned and remembered without neurons. https://dustandtribe.com/2020/11/09/pavlovian-plants/
Shadowwynd t1_j962q80 wrote
Reply to comment by Onlyhereforthelaughs in Amazing shot of a Blue Jay pestering a Bald Eagle by Smash_Factor
Nictitating membrane
Shadowwynd t1_j6hk1ig wrote
Reply to comment by Nazamroth in Venus fly trap on the hunt by c0ntr0ll3dsubstance
Flies react to fast movement. The Venus Flytrap closes slowly enough (at first) that the fly does not have an “I’m in danger” thought until the fingers are interlaced. By the time it’s aware of danger it is far too late. The red part exudes a slightly sticky bait - it helps lure prey in but also hurts their fast takeoff ability.
If you are very patient and move very slowly, you can also sneak up on a fly.
Shadowwynd t1_j4yyf4z wrote
Reply to comment by JacobJamesTrowbridge in [WP] You, the God of War, are on a rampage across a battlefield. As you face down a terrified army, a small chihuahua charges out from them, and does its' best attempt at a howl at you. by JacobJamesTrowbridge
I grew up across the street from a police officer. One day he came home with a used chihuahua. The chihuahua and its prior owner had been in a car accident. The chihuahua was in full demon mode and successfully defended its owner against the first responders - it would not let them get near. The man died from his injuries (because the first responders could not treat him), and the demon chihuahua immediately adopted a new familiar - my neighbor who had arrived on scene. “Old human slave dead, you are my human slave now” sort of thing. The dog loved my neighbor and followed him everywhere. It loathed this guy’s wife and daughters (and everyone else) and would snarl at them and try to bite them if they came near “his” human.
Shadowwynd t1_j4y432k wrote
Reply to [WP] You, the God of War, are on a rampage across a battlefield. As you face down a terrified army, a small chihuahua charges out from them, and does its' best attempt at a howl at you. by JacobJamesTrowbridge
{Conciousness log dump from Wargod 334}
I heard it before I saw it. A thin, pitiful howl rent the air, interspersed with snarling. “They had uncaged some beast against me,” I thought. It took the scouter eyepiece a while to even find the new threat. A tiny war dog, smaller than a rabbit, was darting towards me on tiny legs. “Dog”, of course, was being generous - the little bug eyed freak looked like a mutant rat had been shaved.
The scouter eyepiece beeped, displaying the puny thing’s vital stats and breakdown and threat level. Some dogs were “herding class”, others “guardian class” or “battle class”. I had seen one rich noblewoman’s dog be titled “useless class”. This one gave me pause. The screen listed it as “Chihuahua: Demon Class”. The emotional readout oscillated between “fear and tremble” to “seething burning white hot rage”. The AI presented a threat level of “extreme”. Surely it had to be an error. Demon class? The scouter was useless!
The beast left a trail of urine as it darted under my foot nipping at my ankles. It’s tiny furious attacks did no damage. I brought my war boot down to punt the yipping fiend back to its maker, slipped in its pee, and as I fell to the ground accidentally launched the tactical Mark XXI nuke missile into the air as I fell.
My face! The biting demon was now in my face - a whirling ball of madness as it went for my eyes. How could so much sheer hatred be contained in such a tiny body? I knocked it loose and stood up, blood pouring from my lip. I really should have sprung for the full helmet, but as a god of war I have laid waste to whole empires - planets have fallen to me - and nothing has managed to hit my face like this. Live and learn, I guess. The demon dog hung suspended in midair from my gauntleted hand, furiously growling painful death threats as it tried to sever my fingers, it’s body shaking as if possessed as it angrily worked on my hand.
A soft beep from the scouter. An incoming missile was approaching my position. In growing horror, I realized that the missile had fired while locked on the scouter’s target. The target that was still firmly attached to my hand. The missile was homing in on that blasted dog and the dog was attached to me. I was about to die by my own weapon zeroed in on my current position. I could see the point of light of the incoming missile- why is the shield not up? I might survive if I can get the shield up in time…. And then I remember - the shield generator controls are on my hand. Of course the little bug-eyed freak has been chewing through the controls while it was suspended in midair. Of course the controls are ruined. Sigh.
Demon class, indeed.
{Log termination}
Shadowwynd t1_j49dlf9 wrote
Reply to space themed room by abslte23
You can either buy or DIY ceiling tiles with fiber optic wires poking through. You can get your own starfield (My kids pediatrician has this)
Shadowwynd t1_iva4oia wrote
Reply to Insects get stuck in a spider's web, why doesn't a spider get stuck in its own web? by Koning_Health
The spiders spin nonstick thread like scaffolding, then spin sticky thread and attach it the scaffold thread as a back and forth net. The spiders walk along the scaffold threads and not on the sticky trap parts.
Shadowwynd t1_iu1y7vf wrote
Reply to Engineer Karen Leadlay working on the analog computers in the space division of General Dynamics, 1964. by brolbo
Professor in my introduction to low level computer class (all TTL logic, but bird nests like these for the norm) loved to come up and bounce his hands on the wires while you had to demonstrate your circuit (successfully) for lab credit.
Shadowwynd t1_j9wjjdb wrote
Reply to comment by riuminkd in Do all thinking creatures on Earth use neurons? Does an example of non-neuron based biological "intelligence" exist? by Wun_Weg_Wun_Dar__Wun
A nerve cell is following similar gradients of chemicals. Where do we draw the line for intelligence? The OP question was about intelligence not using neurons. Is problem solving intelligence? Is maze solving a chemistry trick given life itself is a chemistry trick?