A breakthrough set of studies published in Science in early 2025 shows that advanced intelligence on Earth evolved at least twice—once in mammals and once in birds. This challenges long-held ideas about the origins of cognition and has potential implications for neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and the search for intelligent life beyond humans. The reporting from Quanta Magazine and coverage in Wired help frame the significance of these findings.
Birds such as crows, ravens, cockatoos, and chickadees exhibit planning, tool use, problem‑solving, and impressive memory, despite brains that are very different from those of mammals and often much smaller. These abilities have long offered a window into how evolution crafts complex thinking in diverse neural architectures. For example, tool construction by some crows and the seed-cache memory of chickadees illustrate cognitive feats once believed possible only in larger-brained species.
The core question addressed by the new research is whether bird and mammal intelligence arose from a single common ancestor or emerged independently. Fossil records cannot fully resolve brain structures from hundreds of millions of years ago, but state‑of‑the‑art neurobiology provides new clues. The studies used single‑cell RNA sequencing to trace how brain cells differentiate from embryo to adult in birds, mammals, and reptiles. The results show that the major cognitive regions in birds and mammals develop from different embryonic origins and via distinct developmental timelines, supporting independent evolution of intelligence‑related circuits.
Experts emphasize the broader significance. A neurobiologist from a leading Basque neuroscience center notes that the work effectively integrates developmental and adult brain data. An evolutionary neuroscientist at a European university observes that the same circuits can arise from different cell types, highlighting evolution’s flexibility. A senior researcher from a German university underscores the contrast: a tiny bird brain can perform cognitive tasks comparable to larger mammalian brains, raising enduring questions about brain efficiency and organization.
The findings offer a nuanced view of a long-running debate in neuroscience. One school of thought argued for shared ancestry based on superficial brain similarities, while another contended that key cognitive regions evolved independently. The latest results suggest that some neural machinery is inherited, but crucial cognitive circuits likely emerged more than once through separate evolutionary experiments.
For Thailand, where birds occupy a central role in culture and ecology—from the mynah to mythical garuda—these findings deepen public understanding of animal intelligence. Thai science education can present cognition as an evolving tapestry of invention, not a simple ladder toward human intellect. This perspective supports biodiversity and conservation education, aligning with national priorities to nurture curiosity about the natural world.
Historically, Western science has sometimes underestimated avian intelligence. The shift toward recognizing sophisticated cognition in birds aligns with growing observations of parrot problem‑solving and crow tool use, reinforcing the idea that intelligence is not tied to brain size alone but to how neural systems are wired.
Looking ahead, the research opens avenues for neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Understanding how different evolutionary paths yield complex thinking can inspire diverse AI models, not just those modeled on the human brain. As a graduate student at a European university noted, “Intelligence is not a single optimal solution—birds have demonstrated clever solutions on their own.” Such insights may also influence the search for intelligent life on other planets, suggesting that intelligence can arise through multiple evolutionary routes.
For Thai readers, the takeaway is practical: intelligence reflects creativity and adaptation rather than brain size or anatomy. This has implications for education, where hands-on science and observation of local wildlife can cultivate curiosity and resilience. Teachers and policymakers can promote inquiry‑based learning that values ecological literacy and critical thinking.
In summary, the study findings encourage protecting Thailand’s rich biodiversity and recognizing the remarkable minds inside animals we share the planet with. The next time a child watches a magpie solve a puzzle or a cockatoo manipulate a tool, they are witnessing a story millions of years in the making—one that celebrates diverse paths to intelligence. Public schools, researchers, and families are invited to nurture curiosity, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the varied minds that inhabit our world.
For further reading, explore coverage from Wired and Quanta Magazine, along with the primary Science publication, through non-URL references that summarize the work’s significance and context.