Some Of You Can See The Invisible
TLDRThis SciShow video explores the fascinating world of human vision and the ways in which some individuals can perceive light beyond the visible spectrum. It explains the process of vision, from light entering the eye and hitting the retina, to the photoreceptors converting light into electrical signals that the brain interprets as images. The video highlights conditions like aphakia, where the absence of a lens allows UV light to reach the retina, and the phenomenon of tetrachromacy, where some people have a fourth type of cone cell, enabling them to see millions of additional colors. The script also touches on the broader spectrum of light, including infrared and ultraviolet, and the unique vision capabilities of the mantis shrimp. It concludes by emphasizing that our perception of the world is subjective and shaped by the quirks of physics and biology, encouraging viewers to consider new perspectives.
Takeaways
- 👀 The average person can see millions of colors from violet to red, but there are wavelengths of light outside of this range that are invisible to us due to the structure of our eyes.
- 👓 Some individuals, due to certain genes or conditions, can see beyond the typical visible light spectrum, revealing what is invisible to most.
- 🌈 Vision works by light entering the eye, passing through the cornea, pupil, lens, and finally hitting the retina, where photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals sent to the brain.
- 🛡️ The human eye has a natural barrier to ultraviolet (UV) light, which can be harmful. The lens contains yellowish pigments that absorb UV rays, acting like built-in sunblock.
- 👁️🗨️ People with aphakia, a condition where the lens is missing, can see UV light, which appears whitish-blue or violet to them, as it is not blocked by the lens.
- 🎨 Famous artist Claude Monet experienced this effect after having a lens removed, which influenced the bluish tint in his post-surgery paintings.
- 🔍 While aphakia might seem like a superpower, it results in blurry vision because the lens is crucial for focusing light onto the retina.
- 🌟 Infrared light, with wavelengths longer than visible red light, is generally undetectable to the naked eye but can sometimes be seen under specific conditions.
- 🤓 Some scientists have reported the ability to see some infrared light, possibly due to the photoreceptors processing two pulses of infrared light at once, tricking the eye into perceiving it.
- 🌈 Beyond the visible spectrum, there are people, known as tetrachromats, who have a fourth type of cone in their eyes, allowing them to see a wider range of colors and shades than most people.
- 🦐 The mantis shrimp has an extraordinary visual system with between 16 to 21 kinds of photoreceptors, surpassing human capabilities.
- 🌟 Our perception of the world is not an objective representation but is influenced by the unique characteristics of our visual system and the laws of physics and biology.
Q & A
What is the range of light wavelengths that the human eye can typically see?
-The human eye can typically see light wavelengths between 380 nanometers and about 700 nanometers.
What is the name of the condition where a person is missing a lens in one or both of their eyes?
-The condition where a person is missing a lens in one or both of their eyes is called aphakia.
How does the lack of a lens in aphakic eyes affect the perception of ultraviolet (UV) light?
-In aphakic eyes, UV light can pass straight through the eye without being blocked by the lens, triggering the photoreceptors on the retina and allowing the individual to perceive UV light as whitish-blue or -violet.
What is the name for individuals who have a fourth type of cone in their eyes, allowing them to see a broader range of colors?
-Individuals with a fourth type of cone in their eyes are called tetrachromats.
How does the mantis shrimp's visual system compare to that of humans?
-The mantis shrimp has between 16 to 21 kinds of photoreceptors in their eyes, which is significantly more than the three types of cones found in human eyes.
What is the role of the cornea in the process of vision?
-The cornea, the outer, dome-shaped structure of the eye, bends light toward the center of the eye, playing a crucial role in the initial direction of light entering the eye.
How does the pupil adjust to different lighting conditions?
-The pupil changes its size, getting bigger or smaller, to let in more or less light depending on the lighting conditions.
What is the function of the lens in the eye?
-The lens is a part of the inner eye that helps focus light further after it has passed through the cornea and pupil.
How do photoreceptors in the retina convert light into a form that the brain can interpret?
-Photoreceptors in the retina intercept specific wavelengths of light and convert the energy in that light into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve.
Why is it beneficial for humans not to be able to see ultraviolet (UV) light?
-It is beneficial because UV light can be damaging to our eyes and skin. The lens in our eyes contains yellowish pigments that act as a barrier, absorbing UV rays before they can cause harm.
How do tetrachromats perceive colors differently from the majority of people?
-Tetrachromats can see a range of colors and shades that are indistinguishable to most people with three types of cones. They can differentiate between colors that appear the same to others, providing them with a more nuanced perception of color.
What is the significance of the Brilliant.org/SciShow offer mentioned in the script?
-The offer provides a 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on an annual premium subscription to the Brilliant online learning platform, which features thousands of lessons in math, science, and computer science.
Outlines
👀 Seeing Beyond the Visible Spectrum
This paragraph discusses the limits of human vision and how certain individuals can perceive light beyond the typical visible spectrum. It explains the process of vision, involving light passing through the cornea, pupil, lens, and finally hitting the retina, where photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals for the brain to interpret. The average person sees light between 380 and 700 nanometers, but variations in eye structure or genetic conditions can allow some to see ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) light. Aphakia, a condition where the lens is missing, allows UV light to reach the retina, which some people perceive as a whitish-blue or violet color. The paragraph also touches on the potential downsides of such conditions and how they can affect vision quality.
🌈 The Science of Color Perception
This paragraph delves into the science of color perception, explaining the role of photoreceptors in the eye. It details how humans typically have three types of cones, each sensitive to a specific wavelength of light (blue, green, or red), which combine to allow us to see millions of colors. However, some people, known as tetrachromats, have a fourth type of cone due to genetic mutations, enabling them to see a wider range of colors and shades. The paragraph also mentions the mantis shrimp, which boasts an even more complex visual system with up to 21 types of photoreceptors. It concludes by emphasizing the subjective nature of vision and how our perception of the world is shaped by the interplay of physics and biology.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Photoreceptors
💡Aphakia
💡UV Light
💡Infrared Light
💡Tetrachromacy
💡Cornea
💡Lens
💡Retina
💡Visible Spectrum
💡Brilliant.org
💡Mantis Shrimp
Highlights
Some people can see beyond the visible light spectrum due to certain genes or conditions.
The human eye sees millions of colors from violet to red, but there are wavelengths of light outside this range that are invisible to us.
The process of vision involves light passing through the cornea, pupil, lens, and hitting the retina where photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals.
Photoreceptors in the human eye respond to light wavelengths between 380 nanometers and about 700 nanometers.
People with aphakia, a condition where the lens is missing, can see ultraviolet (UV) light, which appears whitish-blue or violet to them.
Famous artist Claude Monet experienced aphakia after cataract surgery, which influenced the bluish tint in his post-surgery paintings.
Aphakia can result in blurry vision due to the lack of a lens to focus light onto the retina.
Infrared light, with wavelengths longer than visible red light, is generally undetectable to the naked eye but can be seen by some scientists under certain conditions.
Some individuals can see infrared light when two pulses of infrared light are processed at once, tricking the photoreceptors into responding.
There are people, known as tetrachromats, who have a fourth type of cone in their eyes, allowing them to see millions of additional colors and shades.
Tetrachromats can distinguish between colors that appear the same to most people, enhancing their color perception.
The mantis shrimp has an extraordinary visual system with between 16 to 21 types of photoreceptors, surpassing human capabilities.
Vision is subjective and can be reshaped by the quirks of physics and biology, leading to different perceptions of what is visible.
Brilliant.org offers a free 30-day trial and 20% off an annual premium subscription for SciShow viewers to enhance their STEM skills.
The Brilliant platform provides thousands of lessons in math, science, and computer science, including a Geometry I course.
Learning geometric problem-solving techniques through Brilliant can offer new perspectives on understanding complex concepts.
The geometry involved in the eyes of mantis shrimp is an example of the intricate design required for advanced visual systems.
Transcripts
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