Many animal species bounce back sound from objects to hunt and navigate their surroundings, from whales to bats and even humans.
In the ocean, echolocation is a logical strategy since sound travels five times faster than air.
Dolphins and toothed whales like belugas echolocate via the dorsal bursae that sit on top of their head close to the blowhole.
The fat deposits in their dorsal bursae, called the melon, decrease their body's resistance to soundwaves making sound clearer, says Wu-Jung Lee, a senior oceanographer at the University of Washington.
Another fat deposits in a whale's lower jaw clarify the echo that returns from their prey like squids and fish.
Most humans that develop echolocation are either blind or visually impaired and use their skills for daily activities. Some use clicks either with their tongues or other objects like their cane, then navigate via the resulting echo.
Brains cans on humans that use echolocation show that a part of the brain that processes visual is employed during the process.
Kate Allen explains, "Brains don't like undeveloped real estate. It's too metabolically expensive to maintain." which is why humans who don't need echolocation aren't able to develop the skill.
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