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by changoplatanero 2472 days ago
lasers would be another one, right? Is there any lifeform that can make a laser?
2 comments

Is there any lifeform that needs it? With light sensors that basically give us line-of-sight range, I don't see which problem organic lasers would solve.
What single-mode lasers do offer is a means of inconspicuous communication. If you can aim your communications channel at a receiver, you cannot easily be detected.

But life could do similar things with collimating reflectors, even for sound. Are there organisms that use geometry to shape sound to send a signal? I'm only aware of ones that use geometry to boost/tune their reception (e.g. owls).

Edit: Dolphins apparently

> Are there organisms that use geometry to shape sound to send a signal?

Wouldn’t this include pretty much any animal than can vocalise?

Technically yes but what I mean is: Are there organisms that shape that sound into a tightly focused beam, to be able to only address the receivers they aim at?
Bats, dolphins. Dolphins even used focused beams of high intensity sound to stun fish, I believe.
Are you talking about echo location? I don’t believe this is understood to be a form or communication?
I’m being lazy here, but isn’t this what happens when you cup your hands over someone’s ears to whisper? Or ever just turn to the person and talk quietly.
The ability to dazzle an attacker or prey seems useful when one is hunting the other.
Yes! Humans. So transitively evolution invented lasers and all the other cool stuff mentioned here.