Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.

Is it possible to ‘hear’ nature?

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 1 Dec 2022 16:09
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Scientists can overhear the natural world using digital bioacoustics, and they're discovering some amazing things.

  • x
  • Mammal-eating ‘transient’ killer whales, photographed off Alaska. (AP)
    Mammal-eating ‘transient’ killer whales, photographed off Alaska. (AP)

Scientists have recently produced some astounding discoveries on non-human sounds. Researchers are documenting the universal importance of sound to life on Earth using digital bioacoustics — tiny, portable digital recorders similar to those found in your smartphone.

Scientists are discovering the secret sounds of nature by installing these digital microphones all around the planet, from the depths of the ocean, to the Arctic and the Amazon, many of which occur at ultrasonic or infrasonic frequencies, above or below human hearing range.

Non-humans are constantly conversing, most of which the naked human ear cannot hear. Digital bioacoustics, on the other hand, assists us in hearing these noises by acting as a planetary-scale hearing aid and allowing people to capture nature's sounds beyond the limitations of our sensory capacities.

Researchers are now decoding complex communication in other species using artificial intelligence (AI).

Scientists are discovering some amazing things when they eavesdrop on nature. Many creatures that we traditionally thought were silent really generate a lot of noise in various instances.

Scientists are also discovering that vocally active species, such as bats, produce sounds that convey far more detailed information than previously assumed.

Some of the findings:

Acoustic tuning is also common in nature. Coral and fish larvae return home by imprinting on the distinct noises produced by the reef where they were born.

Scientists found out that Amazonian marine turtles produce almost 200 unique noises. According to research, turtle hatchlings even generate sounds while still in their eggs, before hatching, to synchronize the moment of their birth. The research has also revealed that mother turtles wait nearby in the river, calling to their babies to guide them away from predators: the first scientific proof of parental care in turtles, which were traditionally considered to abandon their eggs.

Other researchers unmasked that bats remember favors and keep grudges, socially separate and go quiet when ill, and utilize vocal labels that disclose individual and kin identity. Scientists also found out that male bats acquire territorial songs in distinct dialects from their fathers and, like birds, sing these songs to protect territory and attract mates, a phenomenon scientists call culture.

Meanwhile, scientists have also found out that Coral and fish larvae return home by imprinting on the distinct noises produced by the reef where they were born. 

To avoid detection by bat sonar, moths have developed echolocation jamming skills, as per scientists.

Other findings showed that flowers and vines have evolved leaves that reflect echolocation back to bats as if they were using a brilliant acoustic flashlight to entice pollinators. Flowers flood themselves with nectar in response to the buzz of bees.

In short, digital listening demonstrates that we have much more to learn about nonhumans and opens up new avenues for environmental protection and conservation.

  • nature sounds
  • hear nature
  • natural world
  • scientists

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Australia warned of deadly climate risks in landmark report
Environment

Millions at risk from rising seas, extreme heat in Australia: Report

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspects a new weapons factory in undisclosed location, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, August 31, 2025 (AP)
Politics

DPRK defies US, says nuclear state status 'permanently enshrined'

Soldier F faces trial over bloody Sunday killings after 53 years
Miscellaneous

British Soldier F faces trial over Bloody Sunday killings after 53 yrs

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel Hamas war, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Protest outside ABC decries media silence on Gaza journalist killings

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS