Quote:
Originally Posted by skaltezon
Post information about any aspect of the observed physical universe that interests you, or comment on what someone else has posted.
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I hope you include flowers as part of the observed physical universe, because my interest in the perception of electromagnetic radiation actually began with them.
If we zoom in closely on our Milky Way galaxy, to our Solar System, to our Earth, then we come to many flowers, each like a little black hole, absorbing ultraviolet light to create interesting patterns that only creatures with vision in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum can see.
I was excited when I first learned long ago of this great example of other animals' ability to do and perceive things that we humans cannot.
Observe the two pictures below showing
Oenothera biennis L. The flower in visible light just looks bland yellow to us. Yet under ultraviolet light, a striking center spot with radiating lines appears, presumably helping pollinators home in on the important nectar and pollen in the middle of the blossom and helping the plant ward off flower predators (
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases...owers.hrs.html).
Ultraviolet Flowers: Oenothera biennis
Oenothera biennis L. flower in visible light:
. . . . . . . .
Oenothera biennis L. flower in ultraviolet light, showing patterns that a bee would perceive. No one...except the bee
...knows what internal color or mental image a bee perceives when it views the flower.
