Curious discovery: rats capable of manipulating matter around them without any contact. A power worthy of the Jedi Force, but very real, revealed by American researchers.
These often-maligned rodents demonstrate here an exceptional ability, still unexplored in the animal kingdom. How do they do it?
Researchers Eduardo Mercado III and Jessica Zhuo from the University of Buffalo and Harvard observed that rats emit particular ultrasonic sounds. The effect of these vocalizations remains inaudible to the human ear. These ultrasounds produce vibrations in the surrounding air, which may be capable of moving tiny particles. This phenomenon could allow rats to enhance their perception of odors.
This intriguing behavior occurs when a rat emits a sound and then immediately sniffs the air around it. This process may facilitate the capture of pheromones, which are essential in social communication. Pheromones are chemical messages transmitted between animals, influencing mating, interactions, and territorial marking. By manipulating the air, rats might make these messages more accessible.
Ultrasonic vocalizations, already associated with the rodents' emotional states, may thus have a much more evolved function. By acting on their environment, these sounds could increase their olfactory sensitivity. Although this hypothesis remains to be confirmed, it opens the door to new research on the use of ultrasounds in animal biology. Medical applications could also emerge from this discovery.
This raises a question: to what extent does natural biology hide abilities we have yet to discover? For these rats, ultrasounds might be a powerful asset for survival.
How do ultrasounds influence rodents' sense of smell?
Rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) that are imperceptible to the human ear but crucial for them. These sounds, beyond 20 kHz, displace air molecules around them, thereby optimizing the diffusion of pheromones and facilitating the detection of surrounding odors.
The impact of these ultrasounds goes beyond simple communication: by moving particles around the rodents, they alter the olfactory signals received. This mechanism could help rats better understand their environment, identify nearby individuals, or mark their territory.
These studies also open up avenues for understanding how certain sound vibrations might influence olfactory perception, not only in animals but potentially in human technological applications as well.
Article by: Cédric DEPOND