An Immense World How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us - by Ed Yong | Review
In “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us,” science writer Ed Yong delves into the various sensory abilities of animals and how these senses have evolved and adapted to specific environments. The book explores the remarkable abilities of animals to detect and interpret a wide range of stimuli, from sounds and smells to vibrations and electricity.
One of the main points of the book is the diverse range of senses used by animals to perceive and interact with the world around them. Yong covers a variety of animals and their unique senses, including bats that use echolocation to navigate and hunt, elephants that communicate over long distances using infrasonic calls, and sharks that can detect the electromagnetic fields of their prey. These senses allow animals to gather information about their surroundings and communicate with others in their species, helping them to survive and thrive in their respective environments.
Another key point of the book is the ways in which humans have studied and learned from the senses of animals. Yong discusses how humans have been inspired by animal senses to develop technologies such as sonar and radar, which have had a significant impact on fields ranging from military defense to medical imaging.
In addition to discussing the sensory abilities of animals, the book also explores the evolution of these senses and the ecological roles they play. Yong delves into how animal senses have adapted to specific environments and the benefits they provide to their respective species. For example, he discusses how the keen sense of smell of many animals, such as dogs and sharks, has allowed them to locate food and detect predators.
“An Immense World” is a comprehensive and engaging look at the incredible ways in which animals perceive and interact with their surroundings. Through his examination of the various sensory abilities of animals and how these abilities have evolved and adapted to different environments, Ed Yong provides insight into the hidden aspects of the natural world and how humans have taken inspiration from and learned from these abilities. This includes the ways in which animals use their senses to perceive and interact with their surroundings, as well as the ecological roles these senses play.
