Nature Podcast

These tiny fish combine electric pulses to probe the environment

Mar 6, 2024

Bumblebees show collective learning abilities similar to humans. Tiny elephantnose fish combine electric pulses for enhanced sensing. Researchers discuss the potential of organoids grown from amniotic fluid cells. Debate ensues over the weight estimation of ancient whale Perisettis Colossus.

36:43

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Quick takeaways

Bumblebees exhibit social learning by sharing complex behaviors, suggesting broader animal cognitive abilities.

Elephant Nosefish collaborate in combining electric pulses for collective sensory advantage, showcasing a unique form of active communication in animals.

Deep dives

Research with Bumblebees: Addressing Cultural Learning

Researchers investigated bumblebees' ability to socially learn complex behaviors, challenging the notion that only humans possess this trait. By training bumblebees to solve a puzzle box with unrewarded steps, they found bees could learn from each other, demonstrating cultural transmission similar to higher-order species. This suggests abilities once considered uniquely human may have broader evolutionary roots.

Introduction

4min

Exploring Social Learning and Culture Through Bumblebees

2min

Exploring Cultural Learning in Bees and Evolutionary Implications

13min

Electric Pulse Sensing in Aquatic Animals

10min

Exploring the Potential of Amniotic Fluid Cells in Growing Organoids for Fetal Tissue Modeling

3min

Revisiting the Weight of Perisettis Colossus

4min

Exploring Skepticism and Debate in Research Studies

3min

In this episode:

00:48 Bumblebees can learn new tricks from each other

One behaviour thought unique to humans is the ability to learn something from your predecessors that you couldn’t figure out on your own. However, researchers believe they have shown bumblebees are also capable of this ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ approach to learning. Bees that were taught how to complete a puzzle too difficult to solve on their own, were able to share this knowledge with other bees, raising the possibility that this thought-to-be human trait could be widespread amongst animals.

Research article: Bridges et al.

News and Views: Bees and chimpanzees learn from others what they cannot learn alone

16:55 Research Highlights

Why the Krakatau eruption made the skies green, and the dining habits of white dwarf stars.

Research Highlight: Why sunsets were a weird colour after Krakatau blew its top

Research Highlight: This dying star bears a jagged metal scar

19:28 The fish that collectively, electrically sense

Many ocean-dwelling animals sense their environment using electric pulses, which can help them hunt and avoid predators. Now research shows that the tiny elephantnose fish can increase the range of this sense by combining its pulses with those of other elephantnose fish. This allows them to discriminate and determine the location of different objects at a much greater distance than a single fish is able to. This is the first time a collective electric sense has been seen in animals, which could provide an ‘early-warning system', allowing a group to avoid predators from a greater distance.

Research Article: Pedraja and Sawtell