One difference between chimpanzees and monkeys
A chimpanzee can learn to recognize itself in a mirror, but monkeys can't.
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Mirror Facts
Mirror facts and facts about mirrors.
12 facts on this shelf
How are identical twins different?
One twin is always born healthier and bigger then the other because of the unbalanced distribution of nutrients during pregnancy. Some identical twins are actual mirror images of each other, e.g. one will be right-handed the other left or one is near sighted the other far sighted etc.
Can elephants recognize themselves in a mirror?
In a 2006 study, an Asian elephant named Happy at the Bronx Zoo recognized herself in a mirror. That puts elephants in a small club of animals that pass the mirror self-recognition test.
Can dolphins recognize themselves in a mirror?
A 2001 study showed that bottlenose dolphins can recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness that very few animals have shown.
Why did Leonardo da Vinci write backward?
Leonardo da Vinci filled his notebooks with mirror writing that reads right to left, along with sketches of flying machines, anatomy, and inventions far ahead of his time.
Who invented the reflecting telescope?
Isaac Newton built the first practical reflecting telescope in 1668, using a curved mirror instead of lenses to gather light.
What went wrong with the Hubble Space Telescope?
After the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990, scientists discovered that its main mirror was slightly misshapen. Astronauts fixed it with corrective optics in 1993.
What is the James Webb Space Telescope's mirror made of?
The James Webb Space Telescope, launched on December 25, 2021, has a 6.5-meter mirror made of 18 gold-coated beryllium segments.
What is the Extremely Large Telescope?
The Extremely Large Telescope being built in Chile's Atacama Desert will have a main mirror about 39 meters across, which will make it the largest optical telescope in the world.
How did Frida Kahlo paint while bedridden?
Frida Kahlo painted while bedridden using a mirror mounted above her bed.
Can manta rays recognize themselves?
A 2016 study suggested manta rays may recognize themselves in a mirror.
Did Apollo leave mirrors on the Moon?
Apollo astronauts left mirrors on the Moon that scientists still bounce lasers off to measure its distance.