Humans Could Develop a Sixth Sense, Scientists Say

As animals go, humans have relatively limited senses. We can’t smell as well as dogs, see as many colors as mantis shrimp, or find our way home using the Earth’s magnetic poles as sea turtles do. But there’s one animal sense we can learn: bat-like echolocation. Researchers in Japan demonstrated this feat in a paper published in the journal PLoS One, proving that humans can use echolocation—or the ability to locate objects through reflected sound—to identify the shape and rotation of various objects without light. As bats swoop around objects, they send out high-pitched sound waves that then bounce back to them at different time intervals. This helps the tiny mammals learn more about the geometry, texture, or movement of an object. If humans can similarly recognize these three-dimensional acoustic patterns, it could literally expand how we see the world, says study author Miwa Sumiya, Ph.D., a researcher at the Center for Information and Neural Networks in Osaka, Japan. “Examining how humans acquire new sensing abilities to recognize environments using sounds, or echolocation, may lead to the understanding of the flexibility of human brains,” says Sumiya. “We may also be able to gain insights into sensing strategies of other species by comparing with knowledge gained in studies on human echolocation.” [View in Browser]( [Popular Mechanics]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [Humans Could Develop a Sixth Sense, Scientists Say]( [Humans Could Develop a Sixth Sense, Scientists Say]( As animals go, humans have relatively limited senses. We can’t smell as well as dogs, see as many colors as mantis shrimp, or find our way home using the Earth’s magnetic poles as sea turtles do. But there’s one animal sense we can learn: bat-like echolocation. Researchers in Japan demonstrated this feat in a paper published in the journal PLoS One, proving that humans can use echolocation—or the ability to locate objects through reflected sound—to identify the shape and rotation of various objects without light. As bats swoop around objects, they send out high-pitched sound waves that then bounce back to them at different time intervals. This helps the tiny mammals learn more about the geometry, texture, or movement of an object. If humans can similarly recognize these three-dimensional acoustic patterns, it could literally expand how we see the world, says study author Miwa Sumiya, Ph.D., a researcher at the Center for Information and Neural Networks in Osaka, Japan. “Examining how humans acquire new sensing abilities to recognize environments using sounds, or echolocation, may lead to the understanding of the flexibility of human brains,” says Sumiya. “We may also be able to gain insights into sensing strategies of other species by comparing with knowledge gained in studies on human echolocation.” [Read More]( [Can a Retired Rocket Engine Take Us to Mars?]( [Can a Retired Rocket Engine Take Us to Mars?]( The space shuttle’s main engine was mothballed with the program in 2011. Now NASA believes it’s the future of interplanetary travel. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [These Compost Tumblers Will Turn Your Food Scraps Into Nutrient-Rich Compost Fast]( [These Compost Tumblers Will Turn Your Food Scraps Into Nutrient-Rich Compost Fast]( It’s never been easier to create your own pot of black gold. [Read More]( [34 Landscaping Ideas to Help You Beautify Your Backyard]( 34 Landscaping Ideas to Help You Beautify Your Backyard]( Just wait until you see the DIY fire pit. 😍 [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [20 Best Picnic Games to Liven Up Your Next Outdoor Gathering]( [20 Best Picnic Games to Liven Up Your Next Outdoor Gathering]( Everyone loves a little friendly competition! [Read More]( [These Clever Thrift Store Hacks = Easy and Affordable Home Upgrades]( [These Clever Thrift Store Hacks = Easy and Affordable Home Upgrades]( One person's trash is another person's treasure. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [MNH Unstoppable After 40]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( PopularMechanics.com ©2022 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019