How to see with sound - Jacques S. Abramowicz

Discover how scientists and doctors used bats' ultrasound capabilities as inspiration for SONAR and non-invasive medical procedures.
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In a dark cave, bats can’t see much. But even with their eyes shut, they can navigate rocky topography at incredible speeds. This is because bats aren't just guided by their eyes, but rather, by their ears. It may seem impossible to see with sound, but bats, naval officers, and doctors do it all the time. How is that possible? Jacques S. Abramowicz digs into the unique properties of ultrasound.
Lesson by Jacques S. Abramowicz, directed by Sofia Pashaei.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/how-does-u...
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Animator's website: www.sofiapashaei.com/
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Jose Henrique Leopoldo e Silva, Elnathan Joshua Bangayan, Jayant Sahewal, Mandeep Singh, Abhijit Kiran Valluri, Morgan Williams, Kris Siverhus, Devin Harris, Joy Love Om, Pavel Zalevskiy, Marc Bilodeau, Karen Goepen-Wee, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Chris, Tim Leistikow, Renhe Ji, Ka-Hei Law, Leora Allen, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, Boytsov Ilya, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Noa Shore, Kyle Nguyen, Michael Aquilina, MJ Tan Mingjie, Dawn Jordan, Prasanth Mathialagan, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Siamak H, Manav parmar, David Lucsanyi, Anthony Kudolo, Ryohky Araya, Eduardo Briceño, Christophe Dessalles, Heather Slater, Yuh Saito, Fabian Amels, Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Josh Engel and Andrea Feliz.

[@atharvpatil6032]

One of the best thing about ted ed is the starting quotes

[@tlmyasirs]

I agree I agree

[@poisonouspotato1]

Have you ever watched the full videos?

[@atharvpatil6032]

@@poisonouspotato1 alwayS

[@bonvg6037]

Not really

[@srikai.v.6874]

Ikr!!!!!

[@karlamay_]

I am a sonographer, I do ultrasound procedures for a living. A lot of our patients don't know who we are and what we do. So thank you so much for this video, Ted Ed❤️

[@spongebobspongebob24]

Depends on where you are. But yeah

[@foxwaffles]

Thanks to people like you my appendicitis was detected in the nick of time many years ago. The surgeon later told me I could have ruptured at any minute

[@karlamay_]

@@foxwaffles Yes, ultrasound is very much efficient in detecting pathologies like that of appendicitis. I am glad that it didn't rupture or else it could have been a bigger problem. I am sure your techs were very much happy to help you. It is actually an achievement for us to detect or diagnose especially if the procedures are of certain difficulty. I am also very happy that you made it.

[@mo-nn2qq]

@@foxwaffles the same happened to me put it was too late it ruptured inside In my abdomnal cavity this lead me to sever complicatios 😭😭😭

[@DifferentSaturner]

I heard that this sound can damage the hearing power of an unborn baby. I'm not sure if this's true or just a rumour.

[@wolverine712]

For anyone who might not know.... SONAR stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging

[@atlas_1802]

Thanks! 👍

[@bostocked]

Thank you!

[@jen_nie07]

"Reality is a sound, you have to tune in to it not just keep yelling." -Anne Carson, Autobiography of Red

[@suntzu2102]

That's what I saw the start of the video what do i do with it? Want Heart from ted ed? Not So Easily Brat!

[@jen_nie07]

@@suntzu2102 Of course that's the one you saw at the start of the video! I just wanted to highlight it because I thought that quote was so cool. :)

[@globisdead]

I just wrote a physics test and then this came up, I swear Ted-Ed is mocking me 😭 😭 😭

[@alphabladelm2011]

It’s just being a sounding board.

[@mostofakamal4315]

Ikr!!! I literally once had a history test and one month late, the video about it come :')

[@4444Ferris]

Ted ed, the one channel I can trust to post a video at this day and not be a "" "prank" "" but actual content

[@jamiegreenberg8476]

i wanted a prank vid tbh lol

[@DrRank]

They could have done a brief history of April Fools itself, though.

[@StanSays]

This *sounds* interesting

[@alphabladelm2011]

I hear you. It’s nice to find someone else on the same frequency.

[@Qo0_0]

👍💯

[@Panda-24]

Ya'll are killin' me.🤣

[@Skibbityboo0580]

I work with ultrasound, and this video is amazing!

[@abhijitmeti1611]

Correction at 0:40 : The distance between two peaks is "wavelength" not frequency, frequency is number of waves per second.

[@amritsingh4251]

Correct.

[@Gamepro2112]

I’ve had an ultrasound on my shoulder to see my tendons I also had one on my stomach, I don’t remember why though, but I do remember asking the tech how the baby looked. She gave me a blank stare like she had heard that a million times from other guys. And I’m sorry to whoever that was for that terrible joke.

[@laurenajaero346]

No, the joke was good 😂 😂

[@Alisca01]

My mom's pregnant, and now I know how ultrasound works.

[@foxbatmc8457]

Congrats

[@Alisca01]

@@foxbatmc8457 thanks man

[@anmoldeep2400]

Congrats

[@poisonouspotato1]

Oh not another brat

[@cerealmug450]

@@poisonouspotato1 I thought when my mom said I was having a sibling it would be another me NO

[@shivpatel7506]

My mom does ultrasound, so it’s nice that they’re talking about it. So few people actually know what ultrasound is other than it has something to do with babies in the womb and bats.

[@ForteExpresso]

Well they teach us that in 10th class NCERT Science book

[@neonfroot]

Uktrasound imaging isnt widely known like X rays

[@clementine7588]

The questions I didnt know i wanted the answers to

[@Neet-gl5ch]

Baby: Wow, that is one weird witch...But at least her wand works fine. 2:46

[@newthrill4027]

Baby potter and the sorceress of sound

[@xavierthomas5923]

Baby Potter and the wand of Hermes

[@annapurnanon-profit363]

Baby Potter and the chamber of Flesh

[@Tornadoally]

I love the effort that Ted-Ed put into every video! It makes learning so enjoyable, especially when compared to traditional school. The animations and visuals help so much!

[@hannahbosman423]

I'm glad TED did a video on my profession! I appreciate that it mentioned its many other uses beyond fetal monitoring. We see so much everyday, babies are only a small part of our jobs. There's few times that sonography is boring because every patient is different and you never know what you may find. It's a very rewarding and exciting part of the medical field.

[@kinggalindo4012]

Hallo hannah ik kan herinneren dat jij mijn moeder heb gescand

[@neonfroot]

Do you think sonograms look psychedelic?

[@emeraldemerson6726]

I remember when I got an ultrasound. The technician put the device on my skin WITHOUT putting the gel first!! I was shocked because it was so hot and hurt! She then looked at me funny and put the gel afterwards... the gel was freezing but it protected my skin. I thought it was weird that she didn’t put gel on me first. Thanks to this video, now I definitely know something fishy was going on. You’d think that she would know to put the gel on first...

[@geniusaza]

This sounds off to me. The probe (device) does not get that hot. The reason she put it on your skin without the gel may have been to check if that actual probe was turned on. The easiest way to check this is to put it on something (your tissue being readily available) to see if a signal (picture) appears. The gel is not for cooling, it is for enhancing the signal.

[@emeraldemerson6726]

@@geniusaza It was hot, I’m pretty sure I know what I felt on my body. I even told her it was burning me.

[@geniusaza]

@@emeraldemerson6726 it must have been a malfunction or something then. My point is that the gel is not for cooling. And putting the probe on the subject without gel first is common amongst operators. Not to diminish your experience, but you may have been overly sensitive in that instance. That can happen when people are put in a hospital environment. A scary unknown experience in it self, heightening any unusual sensations.

[@neonfroot]

​@@emeraldemerson6726 ultrasonic waves can cause tissue heating

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I hope this channel continues to do a great job at making learning accessible to the public, especially now, in a time when we are reminded that health is not individual but a community responsibility.

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Yessss i love being early to these

[@AD41071]

NOOOOO You're the first person

[@samuraiboi2735]

Im sooo happy to be this early

[@samuraiboi2735]

Not even close to 100 views 😌

[@Mr_PotatoMaster]

First of April?

[@ooghaboogha4362]

i like how u guys have different art styles for different videos :D

[@FinancialShinanigan]

"Bats are guided by their ears" I thought it was guided by justice for Martha

[@Jose.AFT.Saddul]

“Why did you say that name!?” - becomes instant friends

[@nullpointer1755]

@@Jose.AFT.Saddul "Why did you take my spear?"

[@TheAdnanmajor]

My wife and I, have a baby on the way. So far, she has done two Ultrasounds. Im happy to find this video.

[@rajattiwari6076]

My schedule before sleeping is sorted when TED ed releases a video.

[@JustFreddi]

1:19 Now I have the song stuck in my head!

[@guyogodana4767]

I've been watching you guys from early 2017. Thanks for you've done for me. Sincerely, G.

[@Meow_yj]

Great animation and narration and everything!

[@sachinpatel9372]

This is the first time i got so early to any ted videos, and yes TED-ED your videos are DOPE, Keep up the GooD Work. Love from India❤️

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Welcome back to questions I never knew I needed to know until now!

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I love you so much Ted Ed. Please post more? Look forward to your future posts! -your loyal supporter

[@brianbrino4310]

Excellent article! Thank you kindly!

[@TeacherAizDumuk]

Thank you for this informative video.

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Always delivering with the good content TED-ED 😃😗😲!!!!

[@bloom6862]

Incredible narration 😻

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Technology, Entertainment, Design. Thanks TED Ed for existing

[@Yarn2]

Thank you for all of these information~

[@sampurnachakma1922]

Hi Ted Ed, I love your videos, and share them. They are really helpful and interesting. Could you please do a video on 'surrealism' next? Looking forward to hearing from you.

[@srilasyayerram5478]

Amazing topics and ideas.👍

[@TNTNTS]

I see, that sounds incredible!

[@yuvrajkukreja9727]

TED ED 👍👍👍 explains like a pro!!!

[@dailydoseofmedicinee]

What are the advantages of ultrasound?👇 They're generally painless and don't require needles, shots or cuts. You aren't exposed to ionizing radiation, so the procedure is safer than X-rays and CT scans. Ultrasound captures images of soft tissues that don't show up well on X-rays. Ultrasounds are widely accessible and less expensive than other methods.

[@cfromnowhere]

This video came up just after I had an ultrasound yesterday. I've been subscribed to this channel so I know it's a coincidence. 😸

[@jazminvee4401]

TED-Ed: how does ultrasound works? Me: welp i didnt ask but why not

[@Brian-np6tx]

I love this animation style

[@anhthotran9414]

I love the intro sound. It became part of my morning schedule.

[@technicalmentor3256]

well explained

[@eastonfelts5988]

i get all of my knowledge from here. thanks ted-ed

[@freesk8]

So nice to have a rare TED-Ed with no politics.

[@SonoFelice-]

I have to plug my ears metaphorically and ignore every single upload from my favorite channels today, thank you for giving me actual entertainment and education on this cursed day!

[@Aahan_gupta]

You can see vd sound in itself is magic..👍🙏

[@ivyhutton6378]

I came here expecting a lot of smart pranks on april 1st, but instead got some cool knowledge!

[@alphabladelm2011]

The origins of April Fools Day would have been perfect timing. Maybe next year.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@booksoverview1236]

The best thing about TED Ed is that it is non profit organization...Thanks TED Ed..Pakistan

[@lauragadille3384]

Very interesting.

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Ted's Ed: *there more complex,cooler,interesing medium than regular medium and is just so cool* Me: *y.e.s*

[@greasedmeat6007]

Since bats often live in large groups, how would they distinguish their own echo location from that of their neigbors? I'd imagine that it could get very disorientating if you are in a small cave with hundreds of other bats all using echolocation. Or would the extra sounds of other bats create a more detailed "picture" of their environmet due to the larger amount of sound waves it picks up.

[@annakareninacamara6580]

maybe (just maybe, take it with a grain of salt since i have no expertise whatsoever in this field. I'm just intrigued by this question) they have specific timbers like us? We, for example, distinguish our own voice (or types of instruments) from the rate of each frequency we emit, and this ratio is unique to each person. I imagine each bat also has a specific set of frequencies (his own voice), which he can tell apart from the others.

[@Blurrybob]

Narrator: Our flying friends... Me: *Flashbacks from Quarantine period

[@paintwithtihani9926]

this video made me super happy somehow :D

[@mr.minnesoulja1257]

Awesome! I just saw my baby through ultrasound recently :-)

[@mr.b3168]

Why do people only know of ultrasounds being used for babies when it's used for much more than that.

[@theabirde]

I think it could be because a lot of parents have more than jusst one offspring so kids get to know that. Also not everyone has an injury and needs an ultrasound

[@mgA757]

👍

[@vylbird8014]

Because a parent-to-be getting a picture of their future baby is an event they want to tell everyone. It's the nature of parents - the should it from the rooftops, and from their facebook page. Every friend, relative, co-worker and distant associate will be invited to look at the picture. An ultrasound picture of one's kidney stones is considerably less likely to be publicised.

[@bonvg6037]

Ted ed is never boring

[@Mariofan2479]

Here’s hoping you do a video on ADHD one day! I’ve always been bullied as a kid as to why I was never paying attention when that was never the case

[@mgA757]

😟

[@jaypatel4467]

At 0:43, I think the distance between the peaks measures wavelength and not frequency. Frequency can be calculated by dividing the speed of the wave in that medium by the wavelength of the wave.

[@ItsDeveloper_]

Don’t put my name under quotes I didn’t even say -Albert Einstein

[@anonymousdude2550]

It's the nature Which has given us everything, even inspiration and brains

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Ted ed is our knowledge Bank🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@DrRank]

I had an ultrasound just a couple weeks ago. I'd fallen off the pizza delivery scooter the week before, and had recently started feeling pain in my ribs upon inhalation. My doctor wanted to rule out liver damage, and that's exactly what the radiologist did.

[@syracks01]

Thats cool ❤

[@jwseven77]

and then there's Toph: she sees with vibrations through her feet

[@midimusicforever]

Full color sound

[@neonfroot]

Ultrasound pictures are psychedelic. Theyre not like X rays or MRI images. The way the graphics appear all blurry but sharp at the same time.

[@TheNinthDJ]

10 years of ted ed!

[@kabukii_]

Can you do a video about the rise and fall of the Tondo Empire?

[@Amanda-rn6tw]

Who knew I'd learn about ultra sounds today....

[@XOPOIIIO]

From your depiction I can see that it only sees what is behind. How it should help to navigate?

[@stevenwozniak8365]

:43 in, "the distance between the peaks determines the wave's frequency" ... much better to state the "distance between each peak determines the wavelength" then relate to velocity and frequency...

[@Jenny-mf4do]

Have a good day!

[@patsutsay]

Please do MRI lesson too 😊

[@l_jazz]

I just realized, I’ve never seen a TED-Ed video that was just uploaded

[@sulfurnitride]

I didn't come here to learn I came here to watch the beautiful art.

[@varunprakash6207]

Ultrasound waves used to find Baby in Mom womb and SONAR used in Ocean to find enemy ships & Submarine & Marine Ecosystems use to Transmit the signal The sound we hear is about 20 HZ to 20,000 where animal like Bat her 70,000 Hz & Elephant 🐘 hear 50,000HZ Humans uses ultrasound waves To find detect the new things

[@3452te]

I was curious about ultrasound.

[@junezhang2128]

I'm gonna have an ultrasound scan soon.

[@ghastlyghandi4301]

Thanks for your advice, I’ll be sure to use it when I run into open traffic with my eyes closed tomorrow!

[@samuelb-1406]

This. Deserves. More. Attention

[@user-td3sl7wj9v]

Hi doc, do soft tissue ultrasound show muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves? And any type of injuries? Or it should be musculoskeletal ultrasound? Thank you

[@iyeriyer548]

I hate this topic Ted Ed. One of the worst topics ever. April Fools I actually love it 😂😍

[@TEDEd]

You had us in the first half, not gonna lie

[@wanderer7600]

Here for the animations

[@jagadishware922]

Please do increase the frames of animation in video it's fell like KZbin is lagging

[@jeniushkarki5326]

i just love these animations

[@Chris-ok4zo]

Literally just went for an untrasound yesterday because I had a lymph infection. What a coincidence.

[@afoxcatartvideos4877]

Wow

[@mohammadtabishirfan8638]

It feels good for a student who views videos like this.. mainly bcoz he has heard of it and studied abt it...like if u feel so

[@harshreya]

Hellewww😂😂

[@mohammadtabishirfan8638]

Enjoy by seeing TED-ED video🤩

[@harshreya]

@@mohammadtabishirfan8638 Acting achchi krlete hain bhaisahb😂

[@fawadhaider5230]

I am studying a law subject which very confusing. It's an humble request to make any video or lecture. This subject can only be understood by picture or graphic explanation. The name of the subject is "Companies Act,2017" in Pakistan.

[@1.4142]

Focused ultrasound surgery as well

[@mr.xtension]

I want to know how MRI Machines work....... Please make video on this also.........

[@auro1986]

is it better than magnetic resonance imaging?

[@sha3ker245]

This is way better than normal school

[@trinhuctranminhanh4768]

So, That's incredable animation video for this channel. Sincerely to all producers who've created the good ideal. So thanks so much

[@koko11471]

WoW

[@officialMinal]

I think they changed the thumbnail of this video because I just confused that they uploaded two video in a single day

[@Chase3141]

Toph has already mastered this skill in the ember island players