The Infinite Monkey’s Guide to... Being Human

The Infinite Monkey Cage

BBC

Comedy, Science

4.7 • 9.4K Ratings

🗓️ 25 October 2023

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Brian Cox and Robin Ince consider the quirks that make human beings unique and check in with experts from The Infinite Monkey Cage back catalogue. Prof Alice Roberts explains that our ancestors interbred with Neanderthals to make us who we are today. We’re also excellent at communicating with other species, as comedian Bill Bailey learns when he gets a lesson in chimp speak from the legendary primatologist Dr Jane Goodall. Then there are the bits of us that are pretty different, like our large brains and Conan O’Brien says his has been wired for comedy. Everyone agrees natural selection hasn’t always equipped us with the best tools for the job and David Baddiel argues the eye is a perfect example of a human design flaw. Episodes featured: The Infinite Monkey Cage 100 Series 22: When the Monkeys met the Chimps Series 22: The Human Brain Series 19: Are Humans Still Evolving? New episodes will be released on Wednesdays, but if you’re in the UK, listen to new episodes, a week early, first on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3K3Jzy Producer: Marijke Peters Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.
0:03.7	My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a Load of Sport Podcasts.
0:08.4	I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced
0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sport stars.
0:14.3	Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'
0:18.5	mouths.
0:19.5	But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport in world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.8	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.0	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:35.2	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:40.0	Hello, I'm Brian Cox.
0:42.0	I'm Robin Inc. and this is the Infinite Monkeys Guide 2.
0:45.2	Today is a very important episode and it's especially for Brian because it's the Infinite
0:50.7	Monkeys Guide to Being Human.
0:52.5	Now this is something that's fascinated Brian for many, many years, ever since he discovered
0:57.0	that he only ever dreams about electric sheep.
0:59.7	What makes a human being different from other beings?
1:02.2	Is it because we place being, after the word human, because there's something we experience
1:07.0	in terms of knowing that we exist?
1:09.8	Because we don't say the giraffe being or the daffodil being or the haddock being.
1:15.2	We say the human being.
	...

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