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spark-glow · 2 days

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Hi. I just had to buy a new chair for my desk after mine unexpectedly broke on me. I'm getting a New one instead of a Used one like I have been for the past 7 years for longevity. I'd really appreciate help covering this cause this was my emergency money.

Here's some footage of my current situation;

It's hard to tell here but it's leaned so far forward that i'm constantly sliding off. I keep fucking up my ankles trying to prop myself up for long periods. Also check out the huge ugly patch I had to put on it to stop the stuffing from coming out. 👎

Please help me if you're able.

KOFI Cashapp: $sparkglow

#ECHOLOCATION #mutual aid #crowd funding #lets post this on the right blog this time #god

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mindblowingscience · 7 days

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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.

#Science #Insects #Biology #Ecology #Ultrasound #Echolocation #Tiger Beetles #Bats

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blindbeta · 14 days

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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.

#blind #blind characters #writing blind characters #blind superhero #echolocation

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sixteenseveredhands · 9 months

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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

#moth #lepidoptera #biology #grote's bertholdia #Bertholdia trigona #adaptation #evolutionary arms race #bats #nature #echolocation #cool bugs #tw insects #ultrasonic animals #arthropods #bugs #weird animals

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commander-airachnid · 1 year

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༓♡ THE TRANSFORMERS WIFE POLL ( FINALE! )

View the finale post and see the results HERE! * Note that you are voting for all versions of these characters, not just the ones depicted! Not to worry!

#ECHOLOCATION #maccadam #transformers #transformers poll #robot wife poll #elita-1 #elita 1 #elita one #nautica #arcee #LETS GOOOOO BABY NAUTICA TO THE TOP

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art-g0blin-draws · 1 year

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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.

#pokemon #temtem #cassette beasts #fanart #digital art #digital #digital artist #digitalart #electric type #moth #mothman #mothmanic #gambit #echolocation #cassette beasts fanart #digital fanart

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soracities · 2 years

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You know a language well if it does things you don't have control over. Bring me the words without meanings, words all meanings have abandoned, sentenced to meaninglessness.

Mani Rao, from Echolocation: Poems

#q #lit #quotes #poetry #mani rao #echolocation #the book #on writing #reading #m #x

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bat-collector-all · 1 year

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BAT #1 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇

Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera

Super family: Pteropodoidea

Subfamily: Cynopterina

Genus: Aethalops

Name: Pygmy fruit bat (Aethalops alecto)

Also known as the grey fruit bat, this little guy happily thrives in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra (island of western Indonesia) and Java (another Indonesian island). They like the forests!!! Specifically montane forests which are tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as a cloud forests!!! What cuties!!! There aren’t many and they have only been studied a couple times ever!! They weigh 0.5 oz 🥺🥺.

#bats #list of bats #chiroptera #anamalia #chordata #mammalia #science #yinpterochiroptera #fruit bats #cute bats #echolocation #old world fruit bats #bat collector #bat project #bat love #bat blog #every single bat #fruit bat #bat

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mindblowingscience · 1 month

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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.

#Science #Animals #Biology #Evolution #Echolocation #Whales

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orphyd · 6 months

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Some of my fave snippets of the newer story Pinterest boards 🖤

#i think Bella’s is probably my fave out of these #nia.txt #extras #echolocation #names are at the top for those wondering

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sportsandlaughs · 8 months

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#bat #eyes #echolocation #brooklyn 99

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robbie-roo · 6 months

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bats are the freaking cutest! could you tell me something about them? 🦇💞

ABSOLUTELY HOLY SHIT

oh my god you have no idea we just started talking about bats recently in my advanced class!!

so aside from rodents bats contain the most species of mammals they have around 20% of all mammals in their family the Chiroptera (over 1000 species!!) and they're all pretty diverse!!

and I mean SUPER diverse these are one of the groups that people are still finding new species in- prepare for a LONG post this first one as an overview of bats and the next over some specific species I think are neat

OK so they are distributed worldwide (except Antarctica) and obviously have some pretty big adaptations around flight

right now there's some debate going on about classification because of their adaptations- mainly based around echolocation, I'll get into that a little more later on- but the old classification system was the mega bats (megachiroptera), which was only one subgroup, and the micro bats (microchiroptera). The genetics are still iffy and to this day its still a little confusing where everybody belongs but that old way has since been thrown out the window... but still likes to watch what's going on inside if you know what I mean (I don't know what I mean....)

but anyway! this was based also around their distribution so we have what are called old world mammals which are critters found mainly in Africa, Asia, and Australia but also Europe (hence the name old world) and new world which is the Americas. Mega bats were considered new world and only held one family which is no longer the case

anyway!

we don't actually know how we got bats

well we do but we dont... let me explain!

the earliest known bat fossil was a Eocene bat found in germany (I think?) from 52.5 Mya also called Icaronycteris gunnelli and it was pretty much already a bat here's a picture

so... we don't know what it looked like before it looked like a bat! we hypothesize that it was another shrew-like mammal that just transitioned to flying really quickly. after all- that's a big commitment if you want to catch flying prey!

flying also takes up a lot of energy so they have to be tiny (except for flying foxes but I'll talk about them later) they lose heat/energy really fast so that means they need to eat a lot of high value food this leads to nearly all bats being insectovores with a few notable outliers

remember bats are super diverse there's specialization in every way you can think! the only things they won't eat are leafy greens- even the herbivores require high sugar diets and they are too small to have specialized stomachs like other plant adapted mammals.

because these guys require high energy food they also love to stay in tropical climates which is where they are the most diverse- you'll find a whole lot of bats in South Asia and South America.

so let's talk about bats as a whole now that we have some background.

Chiroptera- (literally means: hand wing)

so bat wings. they are more maneuverable than a birds wing and will encase the whole arm and in-between the fingers. they have a super duper adjustable membrane that they can move around in really subtle ways to help them navigate in the dark. their radius/ulna bones (forarm bones) are somewhat fused together and their 1st and 2nd finger acts as that final support beam for the rest of their fingers. they also have a thumb with a claw that sticks out.

their torsos are also adjusted for flight they have a super broad chest with small hips and straight long legs. their claws are independent (not fused like their wings) and they sometimes have a spur off of their ankles to help support the membrane between their legs

some of them have tails some of them do not- when they do have tails the membrane will also be connected to that at the middle.

their shoulder girdle is also special they have a long clavicle a large/strong scalpula and a ridged sternum which makes their center of gravity over their shoulders- this is really important for momma bats! they can only have one young (pup) at a time and they must stay up pretty high on her chest when drinking milk so that she can still fly. that means her nipples are real high up too (eventually she will leave the kid behind and go hunt on her own to bring back food)

here's a few modern bat skeletons

(note the ankle spur on the left image)

ft. my phone in the glass reflection... my bad dog

and check out those Itty bitty hips! imagine how small those babies have to be at birth to fit through that! haha just kidding you don't have to imagine here's a baby bat

SO small (this is a species called Myotis lucifugus the common name is literally "little brown bat")

OK so flight-

I don't know much about aerodynamics so this is gonna be like a weird bullshit explanation on this

so bats have curved wings for lift and they get thrust from their muscles on their body- they can adjust the curvature of their wings which is called the camber (if I remember correctly idfk honestly) and the front edge of their wing will change their angle of attack. they also adjust their fingers for the same deal bpa bla bla you get the point they can move their wings like crazy

so a high camble or angle of attack means a higher lift. they have super tiny thin muscles under their wing membrane that will also adjust its kinda like when horses twitch their skin to get a fly off.

wing beat cycle- upbeat brings the wing in and downbeat spreads the wing. they get their main power from their chest during the up beat and have less power from their back muscles on the down beat

a lot of them also have like a locking mechanism in their shoulder that keeps their wings from like snapping back open from the wind resistance

variability in wing size is also crazy- so long thin wings = longer flight

their tails are also like rudders and help with lift free tail bats struggle with this especially and will roost super high up and just kinda fall into flight

heavy prey like fruit requires heavy lift and that means their uroptagium (membrane between the legs) needs to be specialized for their habits

some bats use their membrane as like a net to catch moths and other flying bugs and throw them to their mouths very few bats will actually pluck things from the sky with their mouth they use their hind legs 99% of the time

(bat wing anatomy)

notice those tail variations

ears.

ears on a bat are fucking crazy there's all kinds of different variations (there's that word again) but one main trait is an extended tragus which is used to deflect sound here's a picture of a few examples

aww Lil cuties

they also have a nose leaf which we think also deflects sound (or heat in some species) both are necessary for echolocation here's some nose leafs

so while we are up here at a bats head we can talk about their skulls for a second and I'll get back to echolocation in a second

so bat skulls are similar to dogs but they may have modifications in their nasal areas and their incisors and premaxilla specifically. this again.... is super diverse and hard to kinda group together but here's a few examples

they all generally have primative molars which is called dilambodont molars its kinda a W shape with their crests but some have some crazy teeth like vampire bats some may not have any front teeth at all! they might use their hard pallet as a grinding surface like echidnas do

again... please don't ask me about teeth this is really all I know they stress me out

their relative size is also crazy variable flying foxes are the largest and can have 4-5ft wingspans and be around 2kg while bumblebee bats stay around 2g some of those larger guys can hibernate and a couple of super social ones do too

so!! elephant in the room- echolocation.

this special feat requires good ears and a good larynx

sound is produced in the larynx and comes out the mouth or though the nasal cavities this is just anatomy but in bats their nose leaf will also direct high frequencies away from themselves

remember a high frequency means a short wave length so to detect distances they need two mobile ears on their head to figure out the direction of the sounds. these move and listen somewhat independently from each other

bats are also creative with their echolocation they use a lower call when flying around to make sure they don't run into anything and a higher and faster call when they have located prey- think of it like a sonar on a submarine. the lower call sweeps the area for something to bounce back against and when something moves around like a pretty little moth for example, they will hone in on that sound to make sure they hit their target. and as we remember, high frequency requires a shorter distance from their target.

now I want to break some misconceptions real quick- no bat is blind. some bats have very small eyes and they likely don't rely on their vision but they can all see! bats are also loud! not in frequencies we can hear them but they are basically shouting all night long. echolocation also doesn't present a map of the land like some cartoons may show- again, imagine a sonar from a submarine its pretty similar but we don't actually fully understand how it's processed in their brains- we aren't bats after all!

this echolocation thing is super precise they, can tell the shape, speed, texture, size, type, orientation, and distance of something from a single call and they can go up to 200KHz

hearing the bounced back auditory waves requires a specialized auditory bullae which is shown in this photo circled in red

so these suckers are not fully attached to the skull and are instead supported by muscles so that they won't deafen themselves with their own yelling. they will relax that muscle when yelling and retract it to listen

this is so precise that they can identify and avoid a .2mm wide wire from a full meter away and can detect a fruit fly from 1/3rd of a meter away

if a bat had their way they could catch prey every 7 seconds (and catch a fruit fly every 3 seconds)

alright I'm gonna leave it here as my overview on bats and next time I'll get into some specific species and the differences between yin and yang bats :)

I hope this post was interesting to you and I hope you learned something! please feel free to ask me anything else thank you for your question!

I've also maxed out on both images AND tags for this post so I'm likely going to try and split up these bigger posts more often

OH before I forget (and I'll do a post on bat conservation too) just a firm reminder DO. NOT. TOUCH. BATS.

they are cute! they are excellent bug catchers! we love them! BUT they are also carriers of lots of diseases that humans can get such as rabies, ebola, and yes covid-19 not only that they are also ILLEGAL to touch

if you see a hurt bat or if one gets stuck in your garage or something call animal control they will send out a LICENSED Profesional to handle it for you

here's some information on the federal laws surrounding bats but always check your state laws as well!

DO.

NOT.

TOUCH.

BATS.

OK that's all thank you :)