Big Picture Science Coming to Our Animal Senses
10 snips
Feb 3, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Ed Yong, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer for The Atlantic, explores the fascinating sensory worlds of animals. He illustrates how creatures like elephants and mantis shrimp perceive their environments through infrared and ultraviolet light, senses beyond human comprehension. The conversation delves into the ethical implications of understanding these unique experiences, the diverse definitions of intelligence, and the importance of empathy in our interactions with wildlife.
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Beetle Fire Navigation
- Beetles use infrared detection to find forest fires from miles away.
- The charred forest provides an ideal breeding ground, free from predators.
Snake Infrared Perception
- Snakes' infrared sense combines with visual signals, creating a combined sensory experience.
- It remains unclear how snakes subjectively experience this merged sense.
Ultraviolet Vision
- Most animals with vision see ultraviolet light, challenging the previous notion of it being rare.
- This ability likely serves various functions beyond secret communication, such as finding food and mates.
