With brains second only to those of humans in relative size, superb memories, sonar systems more sophisticated than any Navy's, and complex social structures, dolphins are often considered geniuses of the seas. Clever mimics and quick learners, dolphins have an uncanny ability to confound researchers, those who have studied them in captivity and in the wild say. But in recent decades, scientists have made progress in unraveling the complexities of the dolphin's mind and social life, and have begun to create a detailed portrait of these remarkable animals. Now, two new, unrelated studies are reporting that dolphins are able to recognize themselves in mirrors -- often taken as a sign of self-awareness -- and of spontaneously grasping the thoughts of other individuals, in this case, humans.