Hello Friends,
A few Halloween related tidbits for today…
Bats!
I believe it's common knowledge that bats use echolocation to see in the dark. Simply put, echolocation is like sonar on a submarine—an audible ping or click goes out into the world to bounce off of stuff. When the sound (echo) comes back, bats and subs can build an internal map of their environment.
That's how the darling little mammals know to land in your hair and freak you out.
Other animals, like dolphins, can also use echo-location to "see" things, often better than they can with their eyes.
Apparently, other mammals, like humans, can do this, too. Not just some people, but anyone can learn how to do it. And, it only takes 10 weeks. This guy, Daniel Kish, even teaches people to navigate the world without the use of their eyes.
Pretty remarkable, if you ask me. What other kinds of tricks can humans do that we don't know we can do?
It makes one ponder…
And speaking of cats
Most cat owners will talk of a rather bizarre activity their cat performs that is described as "making biscuits." During these episodes, a cat will knead a blanket, my armpit, or any other soft surface like a tiny psycho baker working dough.
It's a strange thing. They purr, drool, and dig in deep with their claws.
An Olympic event. They should get medals.
No one really knows why they do this. No one really knows why cats do anything.
And, curiously, this is not new behavior.
And, you thought 80,000 years was a long time… What about forever?
Remember our friend, comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS)?
I bragged about getting this picture:
Well, as is the risk with comets and boys with wax wings, it got too close to the sun.
So, even if we are around in the year 82,024, we will never see comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS again. It is gone. Evaporated, slipped away like a pleasant dream.
A reminder of how wondrous and fragile the universe can be. A rich playground for us writers.
Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween.
Happy reading and writing,
David