A study on chicks has shown that they can also count. Researchers at the University of Padova and University of Trento tested the chicks’ math skills by moving plastic balls behind screens – so as to have three behind one and two behind the other. The researchers had previously found that they prefer to be near groups containing more of the objects.

The chicks still approached the larger of the two groups first, even though they had to rely on memory to work out which screen to choose. –Professor Regolin

So what’s next… algebra? calculus? computational chemistry? Watch out! These cute little guys could be posing a threat to our jobs. [BBC News]

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