LIGHTS, CHIMPCAM, ACTION!

Look out, Quentin Tarantino – the world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees has gone to air on prime-time TV in the UK. The movie was created as part of an 18-month scientific project to determine how chimpanzees perceive the world around them.

The animals were trained to use a special camera in a box (called a chimpcam) and carried it around in their pen at Edinburgh Zoo. They also chose their best-loved clips from a series of images on a touchscreen. While the budding directors appeared fascinated with their new toys, it seems unlikely they were trying to create the next big blockbuster.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST

Respecting our elders might not just be a matter of good manners, it could be part of our primate heritage. French researchers made the claims after recording and examining more than 800 different vocal exchanges between a group of Campbell’s monkeys. They found that the younger monkeys paid special attention to the voices of their elders – regardless of their status and despite older members being less “talkative”.

IF YOU PAY PEANUTS, YOU GET BETTER BANKERS

A Russian circus monkey named Lusha has put investment bankers to shame. After being given one million imaginary rubles to invest, Lusha made a selection of eight cubes, from 30 representing different companies. Lo and behold, she outperformed 94% of the country’s investment funds, with her stock selections tripling in value over the past year. Said one Russian finance editor: “Everyone is shocked. What are they getting their bonuses for? Maybe it’s worth sending them all to the circus.”