On: When Are the Intelligent Aliens?

[SpoonFed]

What about a captive isolated environment that "forces" adaptation such as, tool use in birds & other animals.

It would suggest cognitive thought or at least, competence is a "mutation" forced upon the life-form by environment(s).

Time would only play a miniscule, but essential part in that process until the life-form figured out time doesn't seem to matter too matter.