Current Affairs 20th February 2025
Current affairs 20th February 2025 by Saurabh Pandey Sir
The Science Behind Polarised Moonlight
How Does It Work?
Both sunlight and moonlight exhibit unique polarisation patterns. Instead of relying solely on the light source’s position, these patterns serve as a compass for nocturnal animals. The study found that bull ants could detect and utilize polarised moonlight throughout the lunar cycle, even under weaker crescent moonlight. Adaptation and Survival: The Role of Polarised Light
● Polarised moonlight is approximately a million times dimmer than sunlight.
● Despite its faintness, this light provides essential navigational cues for certain species.
● The dung beetle was the first known animal to employ polarised moonlight, making the bull ants’ discovery a significant addition to this fascinating phenomenon. Returning Home: Behavioral Insights Nocturnal Activities Myrmecia midas ants typically return to their nests overnight. Myrmecia pyriformis ants exhibit heightened activity on full-moon nights, capitalizing on increased visibility. These findings not only highlight the adaptability of these ants but also underscore the intricate relationship between light and life. Polarized & Unpolarised Light
☀ Unpolarised Light: The sun and moon emit unpolarised light, which becomes polarised when scattered by atmospheric particles.
🌌 E-Vector Pattern: The scattered light creates a unique e-vector pattern in the sky, particularly simple when the sun or moon is near the horizon, aligning with the northsouth axes.
🐜 Ant Orientation: Nocturnal bull ants can detect this polarised light and use it as a natural compass to orient themselves between their nests.
🔄 Experimental Method: Researchers manipulated the e-vector of light and observed the ants’ directional adjustments in response to changes in polarisation.
📉 Shift Magnitudes: Ants showed varying shift magnitudes in their headings based on lunar phases, with significant shifts during waxing phases and minimal shifts during the new moon.
📊 Statistical Analysis: Paired tests were employed to analyze the differences in shift magnitudes, revealing unexpected patterns in the ants’ navigation behavior. Lunar Influence: The study found that the ability of ants to use polarised moonlight for navigation decreased during the waning phases of the moon. Summary: The study reveals how nocturnal bull ants utilize polarised moonlight for navigation, demonstrating significant variations in their orientation behavior across different lunar phases. Unpolarized light is light with a random polarization that changes over time. This means that the direction of the electric field of the light fluctuates randomly.
