Comments on: Seals Use Astronomy as Navigation Aid http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 05:58:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-24049 Al Hall Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:55:43 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-24049 Quantum_Flux - You may get a larger audience if you post here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ Just a suggestion.. :-) Quantum_Flux -

You may get a larger audience if you post here:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

Just a suggestion.. :-)

]]> By: Ian O'Neill http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23999 Ian O'Neill Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:19:37 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23999 Hi anthony, In my view this is news, fascinating news at that. I just wrote an article about a "rare asteroid" and I must admit, the seal story was of more interest to me. I suppose it depends on your point of view :) Besides, I love seals ;) Ian Hi anthony,

In my view this is news, fascinating news at that. I just wrote an article about a "rare asteroid" and I must admit, the seal story was of more interest to me. I suppose it depends on your point of view :)

Besides, I love seals ;)

Ian

]]> By: bahar http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23995 bahar Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:55:17 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23995 hi.....this foto is very beautiful and i love this animal..... hi…..this foto is very beautiful and i love this animal…..

]]> By: Quantum_Flux http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23987 Quantum_Flux Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:02:30 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23987 (1) Hmmm, how can we use star navigating seals in pristine Alaska to our military advantage!? (2) How can we use the asteroid impacted "dead zone" Gulf of Mexico to our oil drilling advantage? I'm no economist or politician, but I think congress should play the cards they are dealt correctly and not try to clean up the Dead Zone GOM (drill for oil there) and they should not risk polluting the pristine Alaska (don't drill there). A wise guy once said, "wherever there is oil, there is more oil" .... no need to drill somewhere else is there!? (1) Hmmm, how can we use star navigating seals in pristine Alaska to our military advantage!?

(2) How can we use the asteroid impacted "dead zone" Gulf of Mexico to our oil drilling advantage?

I'm no economist or politician, but I think congress should play the cards they are dealt correctly and not try to clean up the Dead Zone GOM (drill for oil there) and they should not risk polluting the pristine Alaska (don't drill there).

A wise guy once said, "wherever there is oil, there is more oil" …. no need to drill somewhere else is there!?

]]> By: anthony http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23985 anthony Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:28:41 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23985 So, from this study, we can conclude that seals can follow a laser pointer for a treat. This is news? So, from this study, we can conclude that seals can follow a laser pointer for a treat. This is news?

]]> By: Ian O'Neill http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23921 Ian O'Neill Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:33:28 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23921 Hi Kevin, I see your point. When I was writing the article I was wondering whether it was simply a case of "training", rather than instinct. But the fact that these seals can pick out a particular star from 6000 randomly orientated stars strongly suggests they have a natural ability to distinguish between stars. Whether they use this tool in nature will take some work, but it is interesting all the same. There are many subtleties in nature, its great we have scientists gradually unlocking these secrets... Cheers, Ian :) Hi Kevin,

I see your point. When I was writing the article I was wondering whether it was simply a case of "training", rather than instinct. But the fact that these seals can pick out a particular star from 6000 randomly orientated stars strongly suggests they have a natural ability to distinguish between stars. Whether they use this tool in nature will take some work, but it is interesting all the same.

There are many subtleties in nature, its great we have scientists gradually unlocking these secrets…

Cheers, Ian :)

]]> By: Jon Hanford http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23919 Jon Hanford Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:26:38 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23919 I think Kevin is on the right track with this story. Fully fleshed out, skeptical reasoning of this story reveals some confusing & controversial aspects of this study. Obviously more research & careful study is needed to add any validity to this subject. Great story nonetheless. I think Kevin is on the right track with this story. Fully fleshed out, skeptical reasoning of this story reveals some confusing & controversial aspects of this study. Obviously more research & careful study is needed to add any validity to this subject. Great story nonetheless.

]]> By: Aodhhan http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23918 Aodhhan Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:25:32 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23918 Kevin, True, it is good to think critically. It is also good to open a book once in a while and do research. Many animals smell in water. Smell is not limited to the medium of gas. It is well known sharks can 'smell' blood for instance. Some fish cannot see, but can smell their way to prey. You don't need to understand how the universe works to follow stars. Just picking one consistently over and over amongst other stars is something some humans can't seem to figure out. Kevin,
True, it is good to think critically. It is also good to open a book once in a while and do research.

Many animals smell in water. Smell is not limited to the medium of gas. It is well known sharks can 'smell' blood for instance. Some fish cannot see, but can smell their way to prey.

You don't need to understand how the universe works to follow stars. Just picking one consistently over and over amongst other stars is something some humans can't seem to figure out.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23914 Kevin Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:32:30 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23914 What a bunch of dung.... Okay, so they trained some seals to follow stars they pointed at, is that the same as playing games with chimps and teaching dolphins to plant explosives. Just because they follow along does not mean they actually do this in the wild. Besides, would they really understand the precession of the stars and know what season they were in and follow the correct starts??? Maybe, but i doubt they have an inate star chart built into their head. Like religion...if you fail to think critically about something it will never cease to amaze you..... As far as turtles following scent markers accross an entire ocean.....Ummmm...maybe you should rethink that one. How do you leave a scent trail in the ocean? What a bunch of dung….

Okay, so they trained some seals to follow stars they pointed at, is that the same as playing games with chimps and teaching dolphins to plant explosives. Just because they follow along does not mean they actually do this in the wild. Besides, would they really understand the precession of the stars and know what season they were in and follow the correct starts??? Maybe, but i doubt they have an inate star chart built into their head.

Like religion…if you fail to think critically about something it will never cease to amaze you…..

As far as turtles following scent markers accross an entire ocean…..Ummmm…maybe you should rethink that one. How do you leave a scent trail in the ocean?

]]> By: rpsms http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23912 rpsms Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:20:47 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23912 It is a LONG LEAP from showing a seal can be trained to follow a point-light source to "seals navigate using stars." It is a LONG LEAP from showing a seal can be trained to follow a point-light source to "seals navigate using stars."

]]> By: Alice http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23909 Alice Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:04:47 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23909 It's wonderful and sad that they can follow the stars... given that so many of them are killed by human fools who club them to death as babies, for their fur. It's wonderful and sad that they can follow the stars… given that so many of them are killed by human fools who club them to death as babies, for their fur.

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23853 Al Hall Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:38:55 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23853 Well.. To tell the truth, I think the turtles are probably following an 'instinctive' scent left by their ancestors (mom).. But have no clue about this "seal" thing.. Well.. To tell the truth, I think the turtles are probably following an 'instinctive' scent left by their ancestors (mom).. But have no clue about this "seal" thing..

]]> By: Kevin White http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23851 Kevin White Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:33:21 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23851 Nature never ceases to amaze... Nature never ceases to amaze…

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/17/seals-use-astronomy-as-navigation-aid/comment-page-1/#comment-23843 Al Hall Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:56:57 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15117#comment-23843 Hmmm.... I have heard turtles from a specific Japanese island swim all the way to Baja California to lay their eggs (takes them years, I think).. Then the hatchlings ( apparently without mom's help) swim all the way 'back' to the same island.... To mate and start the process all over again. Or something like that.. Difficult for me to believe that they (or the seals) map the stars, but who knows? I think we will need more data. And hope we get it... I'm curious. Hmmm…. I have heard turtles from a specific Japanese island swim all the way to Baja California to lay their eggs (takes them years, I think).. Then the hatchlings ( apparently without mom's help) swim all the way 'back' to the same island…. To mate and start the process all over again. Or something like that.. Difficult for me to believe that they (or the seals) map the stars, but who knows? I think we will need more data. And hope we get it… I'm curious.

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