Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.
After devoting her life observing chimpanzee behavior, Jane Goodall became an authority on the hostile behavior of alpha males. In a freshly unveiled interview documented shortly before her death, the celebrated primatologist revealed her unconventional solution for handling specific people she viewed as displaying similar characteristics: transporting them on a one-way journey into space.
This notable insight into Goodall's mindset emerges from the Netflix documentary "Final Words", which was captured in March and maintained secret until after her recently announced passing at 91 years old.
"There are individuals I'm not fond of, and I would like to send them on a spacecraft and launch them to the planet he's sure he's going to discover," commented Goodall during her interview with Brad Falchuk.
When asked whether the tech billionaire, recognized for his controversial gestures and connections, would be included, Goodall answered positively.
"Yes, definitely. He'd be the leader. Picture who I'd put on that spaceship. Together with Musk would be Donald Trump and some of Trump's real supporters," she announced.
"And then I would include the Russian president in there, and I would place China's leader. I'd certainly put the Israeli leader among the passengers and his far-right government. Send them all on that spacecraft and send them off."
This wasn't the earlier occasion that Goodall, a champion of ecological preservation, had expressed criticism about the former president especially.
In a 2022 interview, she had noted that he showed "comparable kind of conduct as an alpha chimp demonstrates when vying for leadership with a rival. They posture, they swagger, they present themselves as much larger and combative than they really are in order to frighten their competitors."
During her posthumous documentary, Goodall expanded upon her comprehension of alpha personalities.
"We see, remarkably, two kinds of leader. One does it through pure aggression, and due to their strength and they battle, they don't endure very long. The second type succeeds by utilizing strategy, like an aspiring leader will just confront a higher ranking one if his ally, typically a relative, is supporting him. And you know, they remain much, much longer," she detailed.
The renowned scientist also examined the "political aspect" of actions, and what her detailed observations had taught her about aggressive behaviors exhibited by people and apes when faced with something they considered dangerous, despite the fact that no risk truly existed.
"Chimpanzees see an outsider from a neighboring community, and they grow very stimulated, and the hair stands out, and they extend and make physical contact, and they've got these faces of hostility and apprehension, and it spreads, and the others catch that feeling that one member has had, and the entire group grows aggressive," she explained.
"It's contagious," she noted. "Some of these demonstrations that turn aggressive, it spreads among them. Each member wishes to participate and engage and turn violent. They're protecting their territory or fighting for dominance."
When questioned if she thought similar dynamics occurred in people, Goodall responded: "Perhaps, on occasion. But I firmly think that the bulk of humanity are good."
"My primary aspiration is educating this new generation of empathetic people, roots and shoots. But is there sufficient time? It's unclear. It's a really grim time."
Goodall, born in London five years before the beginning of the the global conflict, equated the fight against the challenges of present day politics to the UK resisting German forces, and the "spirit of obstinance" displayed by the British leader.
"That doesn't mean you avoid having periods of sadness, but then you come out and state, 'Alright, I'm not going to let them win'," she remarked.
"It's like Churchill during the conflict, his famous speech, we'll fight them at the coastlines, we shall battle them through the avenues and urban areas, then he turned aside to a companion and reportedly stated, 'and we will oppose them using the fragments of broken bottles as that's the only thing we truly have'."
In her last message, Goodall offered words of encouragement for those resisting governmental suppression and the ecological disaster.
"In current times, when the world is dark, there remains possibility. Don't lose hope. Should optimism fade, you become indifferent and remain inactive," she recommended.
"Should you desire to preserve the remaining beauty across the globe – should you desire to preserve Earth for the future generations, your grandchildren, their offspring – then contemplate the actions you implement each day. Since, expanded a million, innumerable instances, minor decisions will generate significant transformation."
Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.