Don’t get me wrong, this is very interesting, but there is something very funny about the idea that “give a chimpanzee stuff and see if they like it” is academic research.
You have a question, a hypothesis and designed an experiment to test it.
The study had a harder question: "What properties of crystalline stones attracted them?". The abstract has this answer: "We found that transparency and geometric shape were the two attractors guiding chimpanzees."
This could absolutely be a headline on The Onion.
Senator: "And this one! '1.2 million dollars to study if Chimpanzees think crystals are pretty.' That's your tax dollars at work, folks!"
This made my eyes roll a bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHWs3c3YNs4
"You have free access to this story. Continue reading with a Times account"
https://archive.is/EHCxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfv-Qn1M58I
I’m willing to bet they will go after the smooth rocks and it’s about rarity, not crystals.
The study had a harder question: "What properties of crystalline stones attracted them?". The abstract has this answer: "We found that transparency and geometric shape were the two attractors guiding chimpanzees."
Why? Crystals are pretty, rocks are not. We clearly prefer shiny colorful things to dull beige things, even if shiny things are abundant.