Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, works on the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, after a safe landing in the ‘Sea of Tranquility’. This is the only photograph taken of him on the moon’s surface (Image: NASA)
Despite a remarkably close genetic heritage, our capacity to articulate sounds and understand complex symbols is a ‘quantum leap’ beyond the capabilities of our chimpanzee cousins. The actions of our vocal Central Pattern Generator circuits therefore underpin how we articulate our thoughts, allocate meaning, and use a communication tool that allows us to think about what it is that makes us human. But can we think without language?
Although this is intended as a light-hearted guide to areas of science that might interest you, it serves to illustrate the inter-disciplinary nature of science.