1 Unseen power of animals 1-ESP of sharks Ne confruntm cu limitrile de simurile noastre atunci cnd suntem cufundati ntr-o alt

lumeAici sim!urile de altii sunt cu mult superioare" #n compara!ie cu noi rechini au preceptie e$trasen%oriala" Ei pot mirosul sn&elui de la cel putin un kilometru distan!" And hear stru&&lin& sounds pitched 'elow our hearin& limits" (he) e*en detect forces 'e)ond an) human sense" Electrosensors surround its mouth" (hese detect the electricit) of life itself" +od) electricit) creates a li*in& aura" +od) openin&s leak more electricit)" A cut 'leeds electricit) three metres into the water"" Electrical dischar&es from metal in salt water pro*oke an attack" Sharks are so sensiti*e the) mistake the tiniest electrical si&nal for life" A fi*e 'illionth of a *olt is enou&h to merit in*esti&ation" E*en unplu&&ed enou&h current flows 'etween different metals to 'e percei*ed"

, -olphins and humans No animal uses e$trasensor) sound more effecti*el) than the dolphin" .an) of its calls are pitched far a'o*e our hearin& ran&e" /ike a ship0s sonar it sends out these ultrasounds and creates a picture from the returnin& echoes" 1ts forehead focuses the sound into a 'eam" (o &ather more information it ups the pulse rate penetratin& its pre) like an 2-ra)" (here are man) reports of shipwreck *ictims attractin& dolphins" (heir sonar penetrates us too makin& our skeletons and lun&s *isi'le" As mammals we must appear similar to them" -olphins find pre&nant woman particularl) fascinatin&" 1ts sonar acts like an ultrasound scan" 1t e*en hears the em'r)o0s heart'eat" Perhaps the) reco&ni%e similarities here too" Sharks feature in another dolphin stor)" 3hen people are in trou'le dolphins are supposed to ward off sharks" (he) repel with hi&h-speed 'lows" Stories also tell of them sa*in& people from drownin& 'rin&in& them to the surface as thou&h aware of the dan&er" Some 'elie*e there0s a special 'ond 'etween us" Science is more rational" -olphins support their own in4ured at the surface for the) too can drown" Perhaps our stru&&les tri&&er this 'eha*iour" Alternati*el) we ma) simpl) 'e a no*el pla)thin& for them" 3hate*er the truth the known e$trasensor) powers of these incredi'le creatures are as remarka'le as an) m)ths or le&ends"

, 5" Unseen world .icroscopic life forms that can endure harsh conditions in space often in*ade our homes" 6idin& the wind the spores of the pinhead fun&us colonise almost e*er) corner of earth" 3hen the) find perfect conditions the) 7uickl) e$ploit them" 1n*adin& m)celia reduce fruit to pulp" (he ne$t &eneration of spores de*elops in 4ust a few da)s" 8oused in capsules the) wait for liftoff" 9oun& mone) spiders also tolerate e$treme conditions" (o disperse the) clim' to the hi&hest points and wait for a &ust of wind"(he spores and spiders ha*e 'e&un a 4ourne) that will take them to new worlds" +uo)ed ') air currents the)0re transported hi&h into the atmosphere" 8ere the)0ll encounter some of the most e$treme en*ironments" 8i&her forms of life also tolerate these hi&haltitude conditions" (he 8imala)as"(en kilometres up no life should sur*i*e" Unidentified fl)in& o'4ects demand in*esti&ation" .i&ratin& 'ar-headed &eese ride the ,:: kilometres-an-hour winds that 'low at this altitude" 8ere pilots 'reathe pure o$)&en" ;eese e$tract their o$)&en from the thin air" :nce e*er) second the) take a 'reath" Each minute their heart pumps <:: times" Special 'lood cells a'sor' e*er) trace of o$)&en" At minus == onl) the heat from their e$ertion stops them free%in& solid" +ar-heads 'reathe at hi&h altitude more efficientl) than an) other 'ird"

<" >ish and fro&s li*in& out of water

3ater can pro*ide a refu&e from temperature e$tremes" 3hile it0s there" Southern Africa is fre7uentl) ra*a&ed ') se*ere drou&hts" >or a fish out of water death is usuall) ine*ita'le" +ut these fish are not &ulpin& air in *ain" (heir swim 'ladder forms a crude lun& allowin& them to take in o$)&en directl) from the air" (he lun&fish escapes the desiccatin& heat ') 'urrowin&" 1t swallows the mud to e$ca*ate a cham'er passin& it out a&ain throu&h the &ills" (hen it coats itself in mucus" As the mucus dries it forms an imper*ious 'od) 'a& that seals off the fish from the drou&ht" 6i*er mud makes a secure cham'er for the lun&fish 'ut it0s e7uall) suita'le for makin& 'ricks" As thin&s &o from 'ad to worse the lun&fish shuts down and waits for conditions to impro*e" ?entral Australia also suffers prolon&ed drou&hts" +eneath the dried lake 'ed other animals are 'uried ali*e" (he desert fro& can sur*i*e entom'ed for se*en )ears" 1t sheds la)ers of skin that form a waterproof 'arrier which pre*ents the fro& dr)in& out" A'o*e the search for water continues" (he thorn) de*il can sur*i*e for )ears without drinkin&" +lack ants pro*ide all the moisture it needs and it eats nothin& else" (here are other wa)s of 7uenchin& thirst in the desert" (he fro&0s 'ladder holds a reser*oir of drinkin& water pro*idin& a &ood emer&enc) suppl) for A'ori&ines" 1n the desert little is wasted" (he thorn) de*il has a uni7ue wa) of collectin& water" ?apillar) action" 1ts skin sucks up the li7uid like 'lottin& paper" A darkenin& 'and traces the water0s pro&ress across the skin until it reaches the e)es and mouth" A network of channels directs the water to the mouth" 1n this wa) the li%ards drink the mornin& dew that forms on the desert sand" E*en in Africa drou&hts must end" (he lun&fish ma) wait four )ears 'efore the rainwater arri*es to release it from suspended animation" +) the end of the dormant

5 period the lun&fish has started to process its muscles as food" +ut enou&h power remains in them to dra& the fish 'ack to water" =" Supernatural power of ocean animals (hese &reen turtle hatchlin&s are startin& a nomadic life roamin& the oceans" 1t will 'e 5: )ears 'efore the) return here to 'reed" Somehow the) find this remote 'each a&ain" (he secret lies in tin) ma&netised particles known as ma&netite" (hese internal ma&nets ma) sense 'oth the stren&th of the ma&netic field as well as its an&le to the earth" (hese two forces act like &rid lines on a map" An) point in the ocean has its own uni7ue coordinates" +rown pelicans also use ma&netite 'ut new findin&s ha*e found that 'irds possess an additional s)stem" @ision is in*ol*ed" Specialised ma&netic sensors ha*e 'een identified in the retina" (hese see a coloured spot that shows the position of the ma&netic pole" (his head-up displa) allows the 'irds to na*i&ate uncharted waters ') pro*idin& a constant compass 'earin&" /ike trawler men the) use their compass to find the richest fishin& &rounds" A free lunch is irresisti'le" A" >ire ants *s humans >ire ants share the sharks0 passion for electricit)" 1ntroduced into America from +ra%il in the 1B5:s the ants soon ac7uired a stran&e interest in technolo&)" Perhaps the) mistake electricit) for the 'od) fields of their pre)" No one reall) knows" 3hat is known is the chaos caused ') the ants" +) se*erin& wires and creatin& short circuits fire ants are the ultimate &remlins in the machine" 1n homes the) seek the electroma&netic wa*es &i*en off ') domestic appliances" A microwa*e o*en makes an irresisti'le tar&et" Electrical attraction lures the ants into this potential hot spot" +ut techno ants are not easil) destro)ed" >ire ants are so small most of the microwa*e ener&) misses them" (he) also sense cooler %ones" 1f hot spots 'uild up unlike food the) can 7uickl) mo*e awa)" >ire ants are aptl) named"(heir stin&s 'urn" E*er) )ear across the southern States fire ants cause millions of dollars0 worth of dama&e" (here were ants in m) pi%%a""" As each 7ueen ant can spawn a colon) of 5: ::: indi*iduals this alien in*asion has pro*ed impossi'le to repel" +ecause of concerns a'out possi'le risks from electroma&netic forces homes are now rarel) 'uilt under hi&h-*olta&e power lines" (hrou&h stran&el) enou&h plants appear to thri*e here" (he) find electroma&netic fields stimulatin&" ?han&es to electric char&es in plants affect hormones controllin& &rowth" Perhaps these forces help the process" Electricit) is not alwa)s so appreciated" +ees will desert hi*es placed under power lines" (he e$planation ma) lie in the 'ees0 own electric char&e &enerated ') friction with the air as it flies" (he 'ees make &ood use of this static char&e" Pollen is positi*el) char&ed and is attracted to the ne&ati*el) char&ed 'ee e*en while it0s fl)in&" >or a 'us) 'ee this remote pickup sa*es time" (he pri%e is stored in a pollen sac" +ees pro'a'l) swarm awa) from power lines 'ecause of interference with the 'ees0 static char&es" An) electric field distur's them" (he 'ees react a&&ressi*el) to electricit) as thou&h under threat" ;uard 'ees defend the colon) at all cost" (he) tar&et an) source of electricit)"

<

C" Supernatural powers of animal (his man understands the hidden lan&ua&e of 'ees" ?oated from head to toe with 1:: ::: insects he has them under his spell" 8e wears no protection" Such is his control he can emer&e from the e$perience without a sin&le stin&" 8is secret lies with pheromones used ') the 7ueen and worker 'ees" +) appl)in& his own secret com'ination of their scents to his 'od) he su'dues the insects and causes them to cluster" A suit of 'ees wei&hs ,: kilos and creates its own heat" 1t can0t 'e worn for lon&" 1n Australia a more traditional 'ond with animals has sur*i*ed an incredi'le test" 3hisk)0s unerrin& sense of direction has taken him to the outskirts of his home town after a 4ourne) of si$ months and 5 D:: kilometres he0s now close to his destination" 8is smell world 'ecomes increasin&l) familiar" =: million skin cells are shed from the human 'od) e*er) da) lea*in& a paper chase of scents that a do& can follow" >rom this 'arra&e of smells he seeks the familiar traces left ') his owner" >amiliar smells are 7uickl) o*ermarked and *isual landmarks add to those reco&nised ') smell" Not all incredi'le 4ourne)s can 'e e$plained ') senses alone" (here are still unseen powers that lie 'e)ond our understandin&" A close encounter with the hidden powers of animals can 'e one of the most supernatural e$periences on earth"

D" Alli&ators and whales *s" humans 1n >lorida alli&ators also recei*e our hidden messa&es" And the) react ') challen&in& us to a contest" 1n the matin& season alli&ators produce ultra low calls pitched 'elow our hearin& ran&e" .ales use these infrasonic roars to esta'lish their status" ?ars transmit similar lowfre7uenc) sounds and pro*oke alli&ators to a duel" 3ater dances in tune with the infrasonic wa*es as the alli&ators rise to the challen&e" Alli&ators face further unnatural competition" Air 'oats create an e*en &reater challen&e from the sound of their propellers" +ut there is a challen&er that 'eats all others" (he space shuttle0s infrasonic roar co*ers D: ::: s7uare kilometres" E*er) male tries his hardest 'ut in this contest there is onl) one winner" 1nfrasound carries further than an) other sound e*en across oceans" 3hales ha*e calls that can span "(he son& of the hump'ack is the most comple$ in the animal world" /ike humans the) e*en use rh)me a techni7ue we also use to remem'er comple$ son&s" (he) also make low fre7uenc) calls that carr) for a thousand kilometres" At depth *ariations of temperature and pressure form a channel like a *oice tu'e that can transmit their infrasound e*en further" 1t mi&ht e*en reach a whale on the other side of the ocean" 1n this wa) a pod of whales separated ') a thousands of kilometers would 'e a'le to keep in touch" (he na*) uses the same channel to transmit secretl) to su'marines inad*ertentl) 4ammin& the si&nals of whales" Shippin& &enerates more noise pollution" (his low fre7uenc) din has increased tenfold in the last 5: )ears" (he na*) also uses low fre7uenc) sonar to track su'marines to track su'marines affectin& e*er) whale within a

= thousand s7uare kilometres" .others with cal*es react as if a predator is near" (he) head inshore keepin& 'etween the calf and the open sea" At least one case of strandin& has 'een linked to militar) tests of low fre7uenc) trackin& sonar"

B" Power of refle$es

>l)in& predators of insects need fast *ision and fast reactions" (he ho'') needs to 'e fast too especiall) to hunt dra&onflies" 1n escape fast refle$es are e*er)thin&" (he conflict 'etween predators and pre) is a conflict 'etween time worlds" (he tortoise has a shell that protects it from predators li*in& at a faster rate" >or a life spent serenel) munchin& &rass 7uick refle$es aren0t needed" (here are so man) *aried perceptions the same moment can 'e warped in man) wa)s" (he hidden ma&ic within a spra) of water is seen onl) ') those with the fastest perceptions like the ho'')" .an) fast actions ha*e secrets hidden from our slow-reactin& e)es" (he detail in this cascade would also pass the tortoise ')" 6emarka'l) an une$pected shower can make the tortoise0s perception e*en worse" ?ooled ') the water the tortoise sees e*en less detail" >ast motion *anishes in a 'lur" (he cold slows down the e)e0s *isual chemicals until the) no lon&er react 7uickl) enou&h to re&ister mo*ement" -ra&onflies are also affected ') fallin& temperatures that slow 'oth *ision and reaction times" (he warm-'looded ho'') is unaffected" 1t can now 'eat the dra&onfl)" 1t0s no surprise that ho''ies usuall) hunt dra&onflies at the end of the da)"

1:" Animal h)pnosis and trances (he trauma of attack can initiate another h)pnotic state" (hese pi&eons are in a state of trance a 'i%arre condition that affects man) different animals" Alli&ators are easil) mesmerised too a fact e$ploited ') >lorida showmen" A*oid the teeth and it0s eas) to pro*oke this weird catatonic state" (he alli&ator reacts as if it had 'een &ra''ed ') another predator" A chicken can 'e h)pnotised too ') turnin& it o*er and focusin& its attention" (hese stran&e states pro'a'l) ori&inated as a defence" Predators react to mo*ement" 1f their 7uarr) pla)s dead the killer instinct is suppressed" 1t0s this in'orn defence that0s tri&&ered when people h)pnotise animals" 1n trance 'reathin& and heart rates drop" (he) can sta) like this for hours"3hen the) come to it0s as thou&h a h)pnotist has clicked his fin&ers" (he) e*en wake to&ether" And the) don0t remem'er a thin&"

11" ?olo'us monke) medicine 1n nature healin& happens without the need for di*ine inter*ention" (he red colo'us monke)s of Ean%i'ar ha*e the power to heal themsel*es" (he poisonous lea*es of almond and man&o can &i*e them stomachache" Fust like human sufferers the) seek a cure" /ike her'alists monke)s

A and apes ha*e knowled&e of medicinal plants" ?himpan%ees know of cures for parasitic infections" +a'oons e*en ha*e a remed) for period pains" +ut these colo'us seek a man-made medicine" (he)0*e recentl) disco*ered that the remed) for stomachache is theirs for the takin&" ?harcoal 'urners work in the forest and a stead) stream of 'askets carries their produce into town" (his charred wood makes effecti*e medicine for the colo'us" People use charcoal primaril) as fuel 'ut it can also 'e taken as a remed)" 1t works ') a'sor'in& poisons a propert) lon& reco&ni%ed ') western medicine" :nce the monke)s learned to appreciate its *alue the) sei%ed on an) chance to steal 'eha*iour that hasn0t endeared them to the locals" (hrou&h thie*in& the) &ain an antidote to the tree0s poisons allowin& them to feed on a &reater *ariet) of lea*es without fear of stomach upsets"

1," Ge) to lon& life >or ordinar) mortals life span depends mainl) on si%e" (he elephant itself can li*e for A: )ears 'ut at a pace of life 5: times slower than that of the elephant shrew" Slowl) tickin& awa) the )ears the elephant0s heart 'eats 4ust ,= times a minute" (he heart of the elephant shrew whirs D:: times a minute" At such different rates of li*in& the) are hardl) aware of each other0s e$istence" :r the conse7uences of their actions "(he elephant shrew not onl) speeds throu&h its time world 5: times faster than the elephant" 1ts 'od) processes are similarl) accelerated" /ar&e slow animals ha*e lon&er li*es than small fast animals" +ut the) tend to ha*e a similar num'er of heart'eats" After D:: million most will die" Predators usuall) inter*ene lon& 'efore the limits of life span are reached" +ut predators face dan&ers too" (he stress of runnin& a&es their 'odies" ?)cles of wear and repair take their toll" .uscles can onl) 'e repaired so man) times" A lion faces its &reatest stress once contact is made" No lion runs unless it has to" 1n the wild a lon& life re7uires the conser*ation of 'od) reser*es" E*er) 4arrin& step potentiall) causes dama&e"