Popular Science USA – July-August 2019

12 FALL 2019 • POPSCI.COM by Jason Bittel / illustration by Thomas Wellmann

THE MORE WE LEARN ABOUT OTHER

species, the less impressive even our sharpest

sensory powers become. Take sight: Pit vipers

have infrared vision, bees can view ultravio-

let light, and electric eels use their zaps to “see”

through the murky waters of the Amazon. These

ani mals and others have evolved to experience

aspects of the world that sit beyond the borders

of our perception. And some of their super-

powers would be downright awful if ported over

to a human: Imagine having taste receptors all

over your body, as is the case for a catfish. (Public

restrooms? No, thank you.) Still, it’s easy to envy

the fantastic abilities of some of these critters.

aliens

among us

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

HUMAN (^14)
Hz
(^20) Hz
ELEPHANT
LOWEST-FR
EQUENCY H
EARING
sheet^ w
eb^ spid
er
FLYING^ SQ
UIRREL
DISTANCE^ TH^300 ft.
EY^ CAN^ G
LIDE 1 , 000 mi.
SHEET^ WE
B^ SPIDER
dolphin
BAT (^33) ft.
(^300) ft.
DOLPHIN
ECHOLOC
ATION RANG
E
harbor^ seal
HARBOR^ SEAL
NERVE^ ENDINGS^ FOUND^ IN
EACH^ WHISKER
CAT^200
UP^ TO^1 ,^500
vampire bat
HUMAN
109 ºF
HEAT SENSITIVITY
86 ºF
BAT
elephant