Let me rephrase the question – Do we call the Visible Spectrum that because that’s what we can see or is there something different about that part of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) that allow vision to occur. Alternately, If light is dual in nature, being both a wave and a particle, is that the same for other parts of the ES?
Which brings me to the question that I’m most curious about; would it be possible for a creature exist that can see, the same way we see, but using frequencies from other areas of the ES?
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Yes. Light is electromagnetic radiation, and not inherently different from other electromagnetic radiation in itself.
What makes visible light special is the sweet spot it occupies when it comes to interaction with matter. Most basic electronic transitions occur in the visible range, so our eyes evolved into that niche that is both accessible for biochemistry, and as well give useful information about our environment.
Our visibility also cuts off right at the infrared wavelength, beyond our vision would be blinded by thermal radiation anyway.
Yes. Light is electromagnetic radiation, and not inherently different from other electromagnetic radiation in itself.
What makes visible light special is the sweet spot it occupies when it comes to interaction with matter. Most basic electronic transitions occur in the visible range, so our eyes evolved into that niche that is both accessible for biochemistry, and as well give useful information about our environment.
Our visibility also cuts off right at the infrared wavelength, beyond our vision would be blinded by thermal radiation anyway.
Visible light is just what we can see. Other animals can see other wavelength. Bees for example can see UV, and if you look at a flower through UV, you’ll be able to see patterns directing your eye to the center of the flower (where the pollen is).
I was actually listening to something on the radio the other day and apparently more animals can see in UV than can’t. Humans are a weird exception. There’s also animals that can see infrared, and some animals, like dogs, can’t distinguish between red and green.
Once you get into UV-C and above, light becomes ionizing radiation, meaning it has enough energy to knock electrons off of atoms. This is when it becomes dangerous.
Once you get down into microwaves, it because hard to distinguish the cosmic microwave background. Static on the radio is thr aftermath of the big bang.
Visible light is just what we can see. Other animals can see other wavelength. Bees for example can see UV, and if you look at a flower through UV, you’ll be able to see patterns directing your eye to the center of the flower (where the pollen is).
I was actually listening to something on the radio the other day and apparently more animals can see in UV than can’t. Humans are a weird exception. There’s also animals that can see infrared, and some animals, like dogs, can’t distinguish between red and green.
Once you get into UV-C and above, light becomes ionizing radiation, meaning it has enough energy to knock electrons off of atoms. This is when it becomes dangerous.
Once you get down into microwaves, it because hard to distinguish the cosmic microwave background. Static on the radio is thr aftermath of the big bang.
Visible light is just what we can see. Other animals can see other wavelength. Bees for example can see UV, and if you look at a flower through UV, you’ll be able to see patterns directing your eye to the center of the flower (where the pollen is).
I was actually listening to something on the radio the other day and apparently more animals can see in UV than can’t. Humans are a weird exception. There’s also animals that can see infrared, and some animals, like dogs, can’t distinguish between red and green.
Once you get into UV-C and above, light becomes ionizing radiation, meaning it has enough energy to knock electrons off of atoms. This is when it becomes dangerous.
Once you get down into microwaves, it because hard to distinguish the cosmic microwave background. Static on the radio is thr aftermath of the big bang.
> Do we call the Visible Spectrum that because that’s what we can see
Yes
> or is there something different about that part of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) that allow vision to occur
No
> Alternately, If light is dual in nature, being both a wave and a particle, is that the same for other parts of the ES?
Yes
> Which brings me to the question that I’m most curious about; would it be possible for a creature exist that can see, the same way we see, but using frequencies from other areas of the ES?
Yes. Snakes “see” in infrared
> Do we call the Visible Spectrum that because that’s what we can see
Yes
> or is there something different about that part of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) that allow vision to occur
No
> Alternately, If light is dual in nature, being both a wave and a particle, is that the same for other parts of the ES?
Yes
> Which brings me to the question that I’m most curious about; would it be possible for a creature exist that can see, the same way we see, but using frequencies from other areas of the ES?
Yes. Snakes “see” in infrared
> Do we call the Visible Spectrum that because that’s what we can see
Yes
> or is there something different about that part of electromagnetic spectrum (ES) that allow vision to occur
No
> Alternately, If light is dual in nature, being both a wave and a particle, is that the same for other parts of the ES?
Yes
> Which brings me to the question that I’m most curious about; would it be possible for a creature exist that can see, the same way we see, but using frequencies from other areas of the ES?
Yes. Snakes “see” in infrared
Visible light isn’t really different from other parts of the EM spectrum.
It is just the part that our eyes can see.
There are animals which can see other parts of the spectrum. It is all mostly centered on the same part we can see and extends further in one direction or other, because that part is good for seeing things in the world we live in.
Birds tend to see more in the ultra-violet range than we do and some insects and arthropods can see a lot more with their eyes than we do. Mantis shrimp are often held up as example of just how much it is possible to see (mantis shrimp can also punch hard enough to plasma burst from cavitation not unlike a Street Fighter character, they are weird).
As far as sensing em waves not with eyes goes. Some snakes have infra red sensing organs. It is not really “seeing” but they can sense things that give of infrared waves and thus can find prey that is warmer than the surroundings.
Biological receptors too far from visible light would be both complicated and relatively useless to have under most circumstances but probably not impossible.
Visible light isn’t really different from other parts of the EM spectrum.
It is just the part that our eyes can see.
There are animals which can see other parts of the spectrum. It is all mostly centered on the same part we can see and extends further in one direction or other, because that part is good for seeing things in the world we live in.
Birds tend to see more in the ultra-violet range than we do and some insects and arthropods can see a lot more with their eyes than we do. Mantis shrimp are often held up as example of just how much it is possible to see (mantis shrimp can also punch hard enough to plasma burst from cavitation not unlike a Street Fighter character, they are weird).
As far as sensing em waves not with eyes goes. Some snakes have infra red sensing organs. It is not really “seeing” but they can sense things that give of infrared waves and thus can find prey that is warmer than the surroundings.
Biological receptors too far from visible light would be both complicated and relatively useless to have under most circumstances but probably not impossible.
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