What kind of book would be written by an aircraft navigation expert with degrees in engineering and biology? Eric Cassell's new book overlaps all three subjects: Animal Algorithms.
Historians tell us that ancient peoples made long sea voyages successfully, like the Vikings did, by observing stars, currents, the sun's position, birds, weather, fish, etc. Their methods were inexact at best, and the voyages dangerous. The compass, as well as new methods, improved navigational success over the centuries.
On the other hand, people have always observed animals performing amazing navigational feats without charts or maps or the compass or distance logs or any other devices invented by humans. We referred to their ability to do it as . . instinct. Which means: we had no idea how they do it.
But surprisingly, today's sophisticated methods of aircraft and seagoing navigation have told us a lot about animals' navigation. That is, the animals had them first.
from Mindmatters
(cont'd tomorrow)
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