#ECHOLOCATION

[spark-glow]

⸻ Help me make my elderly indigenous mother more comfortable.

Hey there. To keep a long story short; My mom is in a lot of pain and it's only getting worse as we transition into the colder months. She's in her 60's, and has been battling a combination of fibromyalgia, diabetes, and an as of yet undiagnosed autoimmune disorder for many years now. I can see how uncomfortable she is every day, and I really want to do something to help her, but I need a hand myself.

I'd like to get her a heated blanket as well as a heated back support. For that, I need around $80 and some extra for tax.

I've set a goal for $100 over on my ko-fi. You can either donate directly to that goal, or, you can purchase some custom kandi bracelets over on my ko-fi's store.

Boosts are appreciated. Please DM me if you have any questions! Wakhan thanka kici un. 💜

KO-FI LINK CUSTOM KANDI BRACELETS CASHAPP: $sparkglow

DM FOR PAYPAL. Boost the same post over on twitter.

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Poplar Lappet Moths: these moths are able to mimic the dead leaves of a poplar tree (there is at least one moth in each of the photos below)

Above: the photo at the top shows two poplar lappet moths disguised as foliage (the two "leaves" on the left-most end of the branch are actually moths) and the photo on the bottom shows another poplar lappet moth clinging to a leaf

The scientific name of this species is Gastropacha populifolia, but it's more commonly referred to as the poplar lappet moth. It's also known as pappelglucke in German and feuille-morte du peuplier in French.

The moths are distributed across large sections of Europe, Russia, China, Korea, and Japan, but they're regarded as a rare species throughout most of Europe.

The shape, color, wing pattern, and resting position of this species all contribute to its unique disguise, as it bears an uncanny resemblance to a dead leaf. It even has a dark, snout-like projection (the labial palpi) that mimics the stem of a leaf, and its wing pattern completes the illusion with a dark, raised line forming the central "vein" of the leaf; the soft ridges and scalloped edges of its wings also add to the effect.

There are many other leaf-mimicking moths out there, but this species is particularly impressive.

The caterpillars also have a knack for blending in -- thanks to their cryptic coloration and fuzzy, setae-lined sides, they are easily camouflaged against the bark of a poplar tree.

Above: the photos at the top show Gastropacha populifolia caterpillars blending in by pressing their bodies flat up against twigs/branches, and the photo at the bottom shows one of the caterpillars in a more conspicuous setting

These moths are defended by more than just mimicry, though; they can also produce ultrasonic clicks that interfere with the echolocation signals of predatory bats, which allows the moths to avoid being detected (and ultimately eaten) by bats.

Above: the adorable face of a poplar lappet moth

Sources & More Info:

Nota Lepidopterologica: Continuous Long-Term Monitoring of Daily Foraging Patterns in Three Species of Lappet Moth Caterpillars

Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium: Gastropacha populifolia

Moths and How to Rear Them: Gastropacha populifolia

Wikipedia (German): Pappelglucke

Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa: G. populifolia

EurekaMag: Effect of the Scale Coverage of the Moth Gastropacha populifolia on the Reflection of Bat Echolocation Signals

[mindblowingscience]

Bats, as the main predator of night-flying insects, create a selective pressure that has led many of their prey to evolve an early warning system of sorts: ears uniquely tuned to high-frequency bat echolocation. To date, scientists have found at least six orders of insects—including moths, beetles, crickets and grasshoppers—that have evolved ears capable of detecting ultrasound. But tiger beetles take things a step further. When they hear a bat nearby, they respond with their own ultrasonic signal, and for the past 30 years, no one has known why.

Continue Reading.

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

"Echo"

Daniel Kish is an echolocation pioneer, teaching fellow blind people to navigate the world independently. By clicking or tapping and listening to how the sound reflects back, Kish and his students are able to construct a mental map of the world around them.  (Video and image credit: The New Yorker) Read the full article

[thatsbelievable]

[commander-airachnid]

You would not believe the amount of scholarly discussion that went into the cannibalized first square. We were stuck debating over Swerve or Rewind for like 10 minutes.

[thecurefordepression]

[pixie-inkk]

Well, here are the designs for my AU!!!🐍

Made in commission by my lovely friend @yulyeong-k 💜

She did my girls justice!!!

[blindbeta]

Hello.

I am writing a superhero series and I have a blind superhero character. I am currently trying to research how to portray this character in a respectful and accurate way.

For context, this hero is part of the supporting cast, and is a character the MC meets later on in the story. Every character in this world has some sort of superpower. His is the ability to control sound waves. While he can use them in an echolocation sort of way to detect enemy attacks, he can't use them in his everyday life as using your power is just the same as doing any physical activity, it's tiring.

Though, some blogs I've seen seem to discourage giving blind characters superpowers. I don't think this character's powers necessarily "cancel out his disability" I just want to make sure I'm writing this character respectfully.

I guess what I'm asking is, do you have any tips for writing blind superhero characters?

Blind Characters, Echolocation, and General Tips for Writing Super-powered Blind Characters

I answered a similar question that might be helpful. It explored some problems with the echolocation trope. You can read it here.

Limiting the Use of Echolocation

I like the fact that he can’t use it for very long and that it is draining, much like eye strain or using echolocation in real life. Echolocation is also challenging to learn and is not a replacement for a cane or other mobility aid. It would be unhelpful with most day-to-day activities. I’m glad you are considering the possibility of a superpower erasing his blindness and avoiding it in daily life.

Although, I still wonder about his superhero life.

Can he be an active superhero without echolocation? If it is something he relies on to be a superhero, maybe that would be something to consider. If he is an active superhero without it, you’re on a good course.

Furthermore, does he only use his powers for echolocation? I would assume not, although I could not tell from your question, as your main concern is the echolocation aspect.

Addressing Common Concerns With the Powers Often Given to Blind Characters

1. Negating blindness

Controlling sound waves doesn’t necessarily negate blindness outside of echolocation possibilities, as far as I can imagine. Aside from the overly common trope of giving a blind character a sensory-based power, that is. My concern is less about superpowers in general and more about powers that negate blindness, such as those that provide sight. An example would be a character who uses visions of the future to be able to see the way a sighted person would.

Does he still navigate in a way that might be familiar to blind readers? Does he use orientation and mobility techniques? Does he use Braille or large print or brave regular text with headaches so frequent his pockets are full of medication? Does his blindness impact his life?

Blindness need not only limit a character. Is he better able to orient himself? Can he pick up on sounds and landmarks and changes in light with more ease than his teammates? Is he used to getting hurt while playing blind football and thus able to withstand typical scrapes and bruises without being slowed by them? These are only a few ideas and they will change depending on his level of vision, exposure to the blind community, and how long he has been blind.

2. The Power to See is Boring

Additionally, these powers usually focus on addressing blindness, rather than being powers in their own right. This is the difference between a superhero with the power to see and a superhero who can manipulate emotions with a brush of their hand.

Could you consider other uses for this power that aren’t echolocation? For example, could he use his powers to facilitate or conceal communication? To amplify sound? Think of applications for the power that don’t involve echolocation or creating a way to see. Create other uses for echolocation. From your question, it seems you are already considering this.

The way you described use of the power doesn’t seem to negate blindness to me. I also think that considering other uses of this power outside of echolocation (which is often written to negate or reduce the impact of blindness) would be helpful.

Also, as I was reading your question again, I wondered if there are any other blind characters in the story. Since everyone has powers, that could be interesting to explore even if they don’t decide to be superheroes.

I hope this gives you some ideas to explore. Feel free to send a follow-up ask if needed.

[oneandocey]

On bats

Charcoal wings against the midnight sky,

Invisible to even their own kin,

Desperately they scream into the world,

'I am here ',

And the world replies in booming echoes,

'And you are right where you need to be'.

[spark-glow]

Hey y'all, got some fun news; I'm starting a ko-fi shop for my custom kandi bracelets! 4 bracelets for $10!

I really love making these things, and the trial run I did making some for my friends was a total blast, so here I am! I don't have a solid source of income, so any interest is deeply appreciated.

Bracelets can, of course, say just about anything and have any colors you want! I have lots of options, as well as lots of little extras, so don't be afraid to get silly with your requests!

Here's a couple of examples of some sets I did for some friends, feat. favorite bands, favorite characters, OC's, all of that!

Please DM me if you're interested! More terms over at my ko-fi shop;

˗ˏˋ [ ORDER HERE ]  ˊˎ˗

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Grote's Bertholdia Moth: when bats are detected nearby, these moths emit a rapid series of ultrasonic clicks that act as a "jammer," interfering with the bat's sonar signals so that the moth can avoid detection

The Grote's bertholdia moth (B. trigona) is capable of emitting about 4,500 ultrasonic "clicks" per second. While there are other types of moths that use ultrasonic signals (in various ways) to avoid being preyed upon by bats, none of them have a more rapid-fire pace than this species.

The barrage of signals provides the moth with a way to remain hidden, because it interferes with the echolocation that bats use to navigate and locate prey.

As this article from Smithsonian explains:

... when approached by the bats, the moths produced their own ultrasonic clicking sounds at a rate of 4,500 times per second, blanketing the surrounding environment and cloaking themselves from sonar detection.

This article also expands upon the use of ultrasonic signals among moths:

Like other nocturnal insects, moths need to contend with bats. Unlike grasshoppers or beetles, they have soft bodies without spines or hard cuticles to protect them. Yet bats’ reliance on echolocation has given moths a way to avoid ending up as food: by tapping into their predators’ acoustic signals. Many have evolved ears that can hear the calls of bats. Some moths make ultrasonic squeaks, chirps, or clicks to warn their predators (honestly or not) that they are poisonous. Others generate near-constant, ultrasonic buzzes capable of jamming bat sonar. 

Sources & More Info:

Smithsonian Magazine: How One Moth Species Can Jam Bats' Sonar Systems

The Scientist: Many Moths Speak Up to Ward Off Bats

Science.org: Moths Block Bats' Sonar

PubMed: High Duty Cycle Moth Sounds Jam Bat Echolocation

Journal of Theoretical Biology: Neural Representation of Bat Predation Risk and Evasive Flight in Moths

[mindblowingscience]

Dolphins and whales use sound to communicate, navigate and hunt. New research suggests that the collections of fatty tissue that enable toothed whales to do so may have evolved from their skull muscles and bone marrow. Scientists at Hokkaido University determined DNA sequences of genes which were expressed in acoustic fat bodies—collections of fat around the head that toothed whales use for echolocation. They measured gene expression in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Their findings were published in the journal Gene.

Continue Reading.

[art-g0blin-draws]

The new pokemon games were ok, but they didn't come close to grabbing me like they used to. Temtem was an interesting take on the genre for sure, but the system of "buy this neat jacket OR the stuff you need to live" did not vibe with me.

you know what did, though? this neat little indie game that came out recently.

Cassette beasts.

Guys, get this game. if you like pokemon, you will like cassette beasts. the monsters are either really cool or super doofy, and the fusion system is hilarious but also terrifying. the story isn't anything too amazing, but at the same time it's definitely more engaging than pokemon, at least as far as this last iteration is concerned.

The beast pictured here is called mothmanic, and it's a lightning type. I drew this guy because he is the ABSOLUTE MVP of my team. if you want the full strategy i can leave it in the comments, but TLDR is that between the moves "gambit" and "echolocation" pretty immediately turn him into an instant sweeping monster, on top of other stickers (TM's) that make it truly immediate.

guys, play cassette beasts. IT's on steam right now, but will be on the switch by te end of the month. GET IT.

[gliiterbasement]