The world around us is alive. It’s smart too. The last several decades have unleashed a nascent renaissance in our understanding of the complexity and intelligence of the biosphere. Where it was once scientifically verboten to ask whether a non-human species was “intelligent,” research now clearly shows that non-human life on our planet exhibits all the characteristics of intelligence imaginable. The natural world abounds with examples of inherited wisdom, remarkable adaptation, rich culture, and deep compassion.
From single-celled slime molds solving complex mazes to tree-to-tree communication enabled by symbiotic mycelial networks to our growing awareness of sperm whale communication and the regional “language dialects” they utilize, the question is no longer whether there is intelligence in nature but whether we humans are able to see beyond our hubris enough to participate in this abundance of kinship.
This is simultaneously a renaissance moment in our modern understanding of the biosphere and a return to older ways. Many Indigenous cultures have understood, from time immemorial, the essential wisdom of nature. These cultures prioritized learning from the species surrounding them, treating the land and sea with respect, and thriving as a result.
Bioneers is pleased to present Earthlings, a biweekly newsletter exploring the extraordinary intelligence of life inherent in animals, plants, and fungi; fascinating new discoveries about the “more-than-human” realms; and our ever-evolving human interactions with other sentient life. In each issue, we delve into captivating stories and research that promise to reshape your perception of your fellow Earthlings – and point toward a profound shift in how we all might inhabit this planet together.
Check out some of our previous issues of Earthlings