Seeing through a shrimp's eyes

This story is a couple months old now, but I thought it was worth sharing anyway!!

There is a giant shrimp that lives on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia that scientists have discovered could hold the key to developing a new type of high-quality DVD player! (How weird is that?!)

These shrimp (Mantis shrimp) have "the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. They can see in 12 primary colors, 4 times as many as humans, and can detect different kinds of light polarization -- the direction of oscillation in light waves." (Quoted directly from the story - since I don't really understand the science of it all!)

Basically, these shrimp see things so much better than humans - seeing the whole spectrum of color. Scientists think that they can mimick the vision and use it to make a DVD player that would "result in a machine capable of handling far more information than a conventional one."

I really thought this was so interesting! Who would have guessed that shrimp could result in our capability to watch movies in a better way?! I don't understand the science of it all, but I find it fascinating, none-the-less! (photo from AP/Reuters)

--Tammy

Comments

[Laurel]

Speaks to the vegetarian adage...never eat anything with eyes! Everyone and everything has their own little role to play here on EarthWorld, right? And all are valuable in some way. Good lesson, Professor Tammy!

[turtlecookie]

I think this story illustrates the value of an education that has breadth as well as depth. (transdisciplinary education.) To transfer observations from nature into practical applications in technology, medicine,and other disciplines is a valuable skill. A very interesting critter, that giant shrimp. ;-)

turtlecookie

[Dana]

I'm with you Tammy, I don't understand it all but it's very interesting! Stories like these do cause me to re-evaluate my eating habits (like potentially becoming a vegetarian). Isn't seafood supposed to be healthy for us though?