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Vampire bats use modified capsaicin (chili pepper) receptors in their nose to detect infrared light: https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7358/full/natu
by stenl 9y ago
Vampire bats use modified capsaicin (chili pepper) receptors in their nose to detect infrared light:
https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7358/full/nature10245.html https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7358/full/nature...
They use this to find their warm-bodied prey, but of course it's only detection, not vision.
I learned this today, and now I'm happy I did.
- hinkley 9y agoPit vipers too. The pits are used to 'see' infrared.
- radarsat1 9y agoThank you. Definitely the coolest thing I will learn today.
- vanderZwan 9y agoI was about to ask if you work where I do, then I saw your username, then I remembered that you hired me through HN..
- nsebban 9y agoYou guys seem to have amazingly interesting jobs. Please hire me, I'm your future-colleague.
- Kliment 9y agosci-hub link https://sci-hub.ac/https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7358/full/nature10245.html https://sci-hub.ac/https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v47...