Knowledge for the sake of knowledge

There are a lot of things to study, perhaps even too many things.  It leaves scientists whose research isn’t working towards a noble cause to better mankind, such as a cure for cancer or alternatives to fossil fuels, open to criticism.  For researchers who investigate obscure phenomenon, one of the most irritating critiques they encounter has to be:  Why should we spend money to study that? 

It’s an unfair question in my view, but likely one primatologist Kimran Miller and her colleagues have often faced.  Miller’s current research attempts to find the reason why capuchin monkeys pee on themselves.  Turns out, male capuchins urinate on themselves more frequently to hold the attention of females.  Fortunately this strategy doesn’t work with humans, drunken frat boys do not need another advantage in attracting the interest of women. 

But, the best quote from this story comes from behavioural endocrinologist (yes, that’s his real title) Fred Bercovitch:

“It’s obvious that urination is about more than elimination and it is great to see research like this that is figuring out why.”

Freud would approve.