New Research Shows That Chimpanzees Are Engineers, With an Innate Comprehension of Material Properties That Help Them Choose the Best Tools for the Job

In a fascinating revelation, new research demonstrates that chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park possess a remarkable understanding of material properties akin to 'folk physics' when selecting tools for termite fishing. Conducted by a multidisciplinary team from various prestigious institutions, including the University of Oxford and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the study reveals that these primates deliberately choose flexible plant materials over more rigid ones, enhancing their ability to extract termites effectively from complex mound structures. This meticulous selection process, akin to engineering, suggests a sophisticated cognitive ability in chimpanzees, providing valuable insights into the evolution of tool-making in early humans. Despite the perishability of plant-based tools, the findings underscore that fundamental principles of effective tool construction and use transcend time and species. The shared tool-using behavior of chimpanzee communities across vast distances, highlighted by the use of plants like Grewia spp., indicates an ingrained cultural knowledge and engineering acumen among chimpanzees. The research raises intriguing questions about the transmission of this tool-making knowledge among chimpanzees and its application to other foraging tasks, drawing parallels to the evolutionary journey of human tool usage. The study, published in the journal iScience, represents a significant step towards understanding the roots of human intelligence through the lens of our closest relatives. By examining chimpanzees' innate comprehension of material properties, researchers are unearthing clues about early human cognitive processes and technological evolution.