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Arts & Culture

NOVA scienceNOW: What Are Animals Thinking?

David Pogue and Prof. Friederike Range (University of Vienna) test whether dogs have a sense of fairness.
Courtesy of Anna Lee Strachan
David Pogue and Prof. Friederike Range (University of Vienna) test whether dogs have a sense of fairness.

Airs Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

David Pogue, popular technology reporter for The New York Times, is the new host of the critically acclaimed science magazine series, NOVA scienceNOW, beginning with the launch of Season Six in October 2012. Featuring four stories in each themed episode, the new season again tackles an array of thought-provoking topics.

David Pogue touching a swarm of bees.
Courtesy of Anna Lee Strachan
David Pogue touching a swarm of bees.
David Pogue puts human empathy to the test in Times Square.
Courtesy of Anna Lee Strachan
David Pogue puts human empathy to the test in Times Square.

"What Are Animals Thinking?" - Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside an animal’s head? How do they see the world — and us? Is your dog really feeling guilty when it gives you that famous “guilty look?”

Do pigeon brains possess “superpowers” that allow them to find their way home across hundreds of unfamiliar miles?

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In this episode, David meets — and competes — with a menagerie of smart critters that challenge preconceived notions about what makes “us” different from “them,” expanding our understanding of how animals really think.

Expert Q&A:

We all know that humans bond closely with their dogs, but do our dogs know us better than we know them? When they give us the "guilty" look, what are they actually feeling? And do they understand the concept that we call fairness?

If you have questions about dog cognition, share them by November 9, 2012 at noon. Or "like" the questions you see, and we'll send the most popular ones to Professor Horowitz.

NOVA is on Facebook, and you can follow @novapbs on Twitter. Follow @Pogue on Twitter.

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Watch What Are Animals Thinking? Preview on PBS. See more from NOVA scienceNOW.

Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside an animal’s head? How do they see the world — and us? Is your dog really feeling guilty when it gives you that famous “guilty look?” Do pigeon brains possess “superpowers” that allow them to find their way home across hundreds of unfamiliar miles? In this episode, David meets — and competes — with a menagerie of smart critters that challenge preconceived notions about what makes “us” different from “them,” expanding our understanding of how animals really think.