Scientifically...

A Sense of Time


Listen Later

Animal senses reveal a wealth of information that humans can't access. Birds can see in ultra violet, and some fish can 'feel' electricity. But how do different species sense time? If you've ever tried to swat flies, you'll know that they seem to have super-powered reactions that let them escape before you can blink. Presenter Geoff Marsh asks whether flies have some sort of super-power to see the world in slow motion. Are they watching your hand come down at what might appear a leisurely pace?

Science reveals a window into the minds of different species and their temporal perceptions. Some flies have such fast vision that they can see and react to movement at four times the rate you can, and our vision works at more than six times the speed of one species of deep sea fish. This programme delves into each moment of experience to ask 'what is time, biologically?' When birds have to dodge through forests and catch flies on the wing, or when flies have to avoid birds, it would seem that a faster temporal resolution would be a huge advantage. So what is their sense of time?

Geoff meets physicist Carlo Rovelli and asks him to jump outside of physics to answer questions on biology and philosophy. Geoff explores the mind of a bat with Professor Yossi Yovel in Israel, and dissects birdsong at super slow speeds with BBC wildlife sound recordist, Chris Watson. Getting deep into the minds of animals he questions whether our seconds feel like swordfish seconds, or a beetles' or birds' or bats..?

Presenter: Geoff Marsh

Producer: Rory Galloway

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Scientifically...By BBC Radio 4

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

9 ratings


More shows like Scientifically...

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,697 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

880 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,048 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,542 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,797 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,770 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,035 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,923 Listeners

Comedy of the Week by BBC Radio 4

Comedy of the Week

484 Listeners

The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

601 Listeners

The Science Show by ABC Australia

The Science Show

128 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,820 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

413 Listeners

Science Talk by Scientific American

Science Talk

600 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,459 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

760 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

331 Listeners

Quirks and Quarks by CBC

Quirks and Quarks

379 Listeners

The Common Descent Podcast by Common Descent

The Common Descent Podcast

737 Listeners

Instant Genius by Our Media

Instant Genius

83 Listeners

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas by Sean Carroll

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

4,179 Listeners

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

2,359 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,173 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

732 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,003 Listeners