What if there was another species on this planet which was as smart as humans, but not human?
110511
There is.  Dolphins and monkeys are as intelligent as humans, just in a different way.  Dolphins have their own language that they communicate in and it has been proven that they are of equal intelligence as humans.  There are plenty of animals out there that are as intelligent as humans just in different ways.
333249
I think it would be naive to think that we are the only intelligent beings in this vast universe. Of course it would continue to exist. And as far as anyone knows, the boundaries to this universe may never be reached by human beings. Also, you are correct in your statement that human beings will become extinct. I say this because we only need to look at the dinosaurs. Excellent question!
920978
If that's just a fancy way of asking whether plants or animals have what humans would call ESP, why not ? even some humans have ESP.
451859
Depends on your definition of intelligence.They are most definatly able to problem solve and communicate but they cant nip down the shops for some fags and a newspaper.Although would you really say that a species that doesnt seem to have its own survival at its highest priority was intelligent?i think not.It depends on your definition!
1037736
Of course it is impossible to say no mat5ter what information we have because evolution has a strong random component. But at the very least we would need ot know why humans vanished in order to know what other species will also be eliminated.\n\nI would tend to favour the rodents as the next dominant group since they are omnivorous, adaptable, cosmopolitan and have evolved sociality independently numerous times.  But of course we couldn’t have predicted that the last intelligent species would originate from a small a band of browsing animals restricted to rainforest so really such criteria are only helpful, not necessary.\n\nWill it have opposable thumbs? Probably. It will certainly need some way to achieve fine manipulation of tools and logically the forelimbs will be the way that is done, which means thumbs will be needed. But of course there are numerous other options such as tentacles or trunks that would work just as well or better.\n\nWill it have fire? If it doesn’t its intelligence will be severely limited. Without an external energy source high intelligence really serves no purpose. One possible alternative to fire is of the species develops domestication techniques very early in its evolutionary history and is able to exploit other species as an energy source.\n\nWill it be vertebrate? Most likely. Vertebrates show a much higher degree of cephalisation than any other group so they have a massive headstart. If not a vertebrate then almost certainly a cephalopod.
660872
Why not. If were so stupid that we cant say if there are alians...\nBigfoot is a child of nature, if nature wolud like us to find him we wolud, like all the other animals. Otherwise we cant, as we cant discover all animals.
454175
On the one hand, Humans ARE animals.\n\nOn the other, we are something "more" than animals because we are sentient and we are significantly more developed. Although all animals have SOME ability to communicate (even if only by stench), and many even know how to make tools, they are still incapable of the advanced feats of humanity.\n\nI suppose that it may by some slim chance be possible that animals are sentient, but I doubt it.
1033469
Since you are severely limiting the "domination", my answer is no. First, you are saying this species "will become", which I understand as evolving from one of the existing species in this planet. Second, you say "homo sapiens", which means the time span is not long enough for us to evolve into a different species (not necessarily smarter). At last, you also say "intelligent", which rules out the "domination" by virus, bacteria or insects, which, at the moment, seems to be the biggest threat.
373470
Yes, but not intelligent extraterrestrial life.  At least, not intelligent AND dextrous, and therefore incapable of interstellar travel and communication.\n\nFor example, besides humans, Earth is host to dolphins and whales, both mammals of high and - some would argue - superior intelligence to humans.  But you don't see dolphins or whales building space stations, sending probes throughout the solar system, or producing and watching "American Idol".\n\nI think it's the same on other planets - and only a few, if that.  If there's intelligent life, it's probably stuck where it is, like dolphins and whales are stuck here ("Star Trek IV" notwithstanding).
453829
If machines become as intelligent as humans, I would guess they would hate everything like us.  So I guess we would have another war.  Something to think about.
1016787
Intelligence is not a fluke, but there is truly some debate as to whether it is the product of evolution or not.  Take any primate, for example.  They all have relatively sophistated brains, and the work with them suggests a capacity for intelligent behavior.  Still, intelligent behavior and actual intelligence are two different things.  No simian has ever learned to sign on its own, or develop a method of mathmetics, or designed a house.  It can be shown these things, and even taught the basics of them, but its never done these things on its own.  And there are other animals out there with brains as large as ours or larger, like a dolphin, yet none of these animals have ever created anything (so far as we know, anyway).\nWhy is it that all other animals on Earth must adapt in order to survive but not human beings?  We don't adapt to our environment; we don't grow thick fur when we get cold, or hibernate for the winter.  We make our environment adapt to us.  We reshape our environment to make it more conducive to our survival, like making thick warm clothing and building a fire.  That's creative intelligence, and there's no evidence that it's present in any other species on Earth.  Cognitive intelligence, yes, but creative intelligence, no.  So I don't see how it could've been "evolved" into us, when it seems nature hasn't put that charectaristic in any other species.
484052
we don't know for sure.\n\nbut i'd like to think so.\n\ngotta be something smarter than humans\n\n(besides dolphins..and mice.)
94368
We could be.  I believe we are not the most intelligent beings in the universe.  I wonder what we will eventually find on one of the planets in outer space.
1032620
Many animals have abilities that would be considered super to humans.  Things like regeneration,  flight, and ability to tolerate different temperatures.  when we know more about genetic es in humans there maybe a time that we could adapt these abilities to humans.  It is certainly a consideration for living on other planets.  \n\nBut it is possible to use your muscles more efficiently if the right chemicals were present in your body.  People during times of stress have shown increase abilities to to incredible feats of strength.  \n\nAlso some people have uncanny abilities to see and hear things that others do not normally hear or see.  Same with the brain some brains are just wired to me more efficient with things like problem solving, ability to remain calm in stressful times.  Abilities to slow your heart rate to a very low level has been done by some monks that are very disciplined in meditations.
9973
I think yes..could be a good answer...If we compare ourselves to..Earth..our solar system..our galaxy..We are very young put next to the planet's age and even more young when compared to the universe..Are we human beings the ONLY intelligence in the universe?..No..we are a primitive species...and there are far greater intelligent beings that do not originate from Earth..We are not alone..
530192
Well, on this Earth, primates are the ancestors of the only known sentient species.  I don't know that these means that humans are the 'best' species, even if we are (arguably) the most intelligent.\n\nIf the human evolutionary path is any indication, there may be some prerequisites for the development of sentience.  A large brain is the most obvious one, but things such as free and mobile appendages suitable for tool use may also be required.  As far as bats go, they are limited in the size that their brains can grow to and still be able to maintain flight.  Their forelimbs are also not readily available for manipulatory organs.  \n\nSo a sentient bat species would probably be unlikely.  The ecological niche of intelligent species would probably go to a different species that already displays some of these adaptations to some extent.\n\nMice are a remote possibility for potential sophonts.  They can achieve a semi-bipedal stance and use their forepaws for some remarkable manipulations.  Their current small size is their chief impediment.  Increasing body and brain size to an extent to make them candidates for sentience would also slow them down, remove their stealthiness and ability to fit into tight spaces, and many of the other adaptations that allow them to survive in a world full of predators.\n\nOther than the great apes, I think one of the major candidates for potential for sentience is the racoons.  They are already pretty smart, near the top of the food chain, versatile, adaptable, omnivorous, and curious, and have very well developed forepaws with perhaps the highest level of manual dexterity of any mammal outside the primates.  \n\nI seem to recall a novel by Stephen R. Boyett called 'The Architect of Sleep' in which a man goes to a parallel universe where racoons evolved sentience instead of the primates.  It seemed to be an aquel (a book that fails to spawn the expected series of sequels), but if I remember correctly it was quite intriguing.\n\nAnother intriguing species with curiosity, adaptability, intelligence and manipulative abilities that I think would make an interesting candidate for the development of sentience are some of the large cephalopods (like the giant Pacific octopus, Humboldt's squid or even the giant squid!!)  - imagine the society they might create.
27810
Of course not, LOL.  One of the things that sets Homo sapiens apart from any other species is their ability to kill members of the same species even when their immediate survival is not threatened.  Thus are ability to forecast the future (and by extension percieve threats from 'enemies') is was makes up the bulk of our intelligence. Why would we give up such a distinction? ;)