Have you ever imagined seeing the world through an animal's eyes? Researchers from the
University of Sussex (United Kingdom) and the
George Mason University (United States) have developed a system that allows filming the world as various animals perceive it. This innovation, described in the journal
Plos Biology on January 23, 2024, is based on a camera and open-source software, offering more than 90% accuracy in reproducing animal colors.
Animals see the world differently due to their ocular photoreceptors. Unlike current cameras, calibrated for human vision, this system captures realtime videos in four color channels: blue, green, red, and ultraviolet. This innovative approach, combining multispectral photography methods, reveals details previously invisible to the human eye, such as ultraviolet rays.
Professor of Biology at
George Mason University, Daniel Hanley, explains that this system offers a precise vision of animal colors, enhancing understanding of mechanisms, from biomimicry to camouflage. The researchers compared their creation to traditional spectrophotometry, showing a remarkable accuracy above 92%.
The benefits of this camera extend beyond the scientific world. Accessible to the public, its use can be expanded to ecologists, wildlife filmmakers, and even passionate photography enthusiasts. The team is already planning to explore bird perception of windows, a crucial issue to prevent fatal collisions.
Thanks to this technology, it becomes possible to see the world as bees, birds, or other animals with specific visual senses perceive it. It is no longer merely a hypothesis but a tangible reality, opening new perspectives for understanding the animal kingdom.
Article Author: Cédric DEPOND