Comments on: Fish add up, but not past four http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:16:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: djconklin http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1366 djconklin Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:47:36 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1366 "How much of my tax money was spent on this crappy study??" One man's crap is another man's fertilizer. "How much of my tax money was spent on this crappy study??"

One man's crap is another man's fertilizer.

]]> By: demwit http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1348 demwit Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:11:40 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1348 How much of my tax money was spent on this crappy study?? How much of my tax money was spent on this crappy study??

]]> By: gbls http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1319 gbls Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:44:14 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1319 @ danodelion Regarding your first question: how do scientists know that they aren't comparing spatially relative sizing? Scientists would claim that they must be, considering that they can tell a group of 8 is twice as large as a group of 4. They are using the fact that the fish are able to discriminate between a group of 3 or 4 as being able to tell the difference of a 33% gain in size. This would generally lead to a hypothesis that they are able to enumerate the set of fish in each grouping. As for the choice based on safety: Who cares what the motive is? Motive does not affect ability to distinguish numerical value. As a matter of fact, the very fact that you mention one group being larger than the other presupposes the fish are able to utilize some metric with which they can evaluate the size of the group of fish. You can't assume something you are trying to prove. It's bad math and bad science. @ danodelion

Regarding your first question: how do scientists know that they aren't comparing spatially relative sizing?

Scientists would claim that they must be, considering that they can tell a group of 8 is twice as large as a group of 4. They are using the fact that the fish are able to discriminate between a group of 3 or 4 as being able to tell the difference of a 33% gain in size. This would generally lead to a hypothesis that they are able to enumerate the set of fish in each grouping.

As for the choice based on safety: Who cares what the motive is?

Motive does not affect ability to distinguish numerical value. As a matter of fact, the very fact that you mention one group being larger than the other presupposes the fish are able to utilize some metric with which they can evaluate the size of the group of fish. You can't assume something you are trying to prove. It's bad math and bad science.

]]> By: vita kelley http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1313 vita kelley Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:55:30 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1313 One more reason to be VEGAN. One more reason to be VEGAN.

]]> By: danodelion http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1296 danodelion Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:28:43 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1296 How do the researchers know that the fish are comparing numbers rather than geographical or spatial area of the group, i.e., that they aren't just entering the larger school for the sake of safety? How do the researchers know that the fish are comparing numbers rather than geographical or spatial area of the group, i.e., that they aren't just entering the larger school for the sake of safety?

]]> By: Fish Can Count Up to Four « The Intelligencer: Oddities & Curiosites http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1289 Fish Can Count Up to Four « The Intelligencer: Oddities & Curiosites Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:12:14 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1289 [...] http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/ [...] [...] http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/ [...]

]]> By: juniah http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1288 juniah Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:56:00 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1288 someone had to place last in the graduating class! someone had to place last in the graduating class!

]]> By: Richard http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1287 Richard Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:30:22 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1287 Cool. I think it's interesting that while we have scientists working on curing AIDS, we also have scientists working out how far fish can count. Hey, there's nothing wrog with a bit of fun now and again I suppose. :lol: Richard http://blogearth.wordpress.com/ Cool. I think it's interesting that while we have scientists working on curing AIDS, we also have scientists working out how far fish can count. Hey, there's nothing wrog with a bit of fun now and again I suppose. :lol:

Richard
http://blogearth.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Patrick Anthony Drake http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1286 Patrick Anthony Drake Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:38:09 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1286 GREEN ENLIGHTENMENT: "EVEN FISH COUNT". LOVE OUR EARTH. GREEN ENLIGHTENMENT: "EVEN FISH COUNT". LOVE OUR EARTH.

]]> By: California Boy http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/04/fish-add-up-but-not-past-four/#comment-1275 California Boy Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:10:54 +0000 http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/?p=102#comment-1275 the world population of fish, mainly the ocean fish, would prosper better if there were hydrogen powered ships like the hydrogen powered cars. Nobody worries about polluting the ocean only carbon emissions in the atmosphere the world population of fish, mainly the ocean fish, would prosper better if there were hydrogen powered ships like the hydrogen powered cars. Nobody worries about polluting the ocean only carbon emissions in the atmosphere

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