How does echolocation work?

Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals such as bats and dolphins to navigate and hunt, especially where vision is limited. The animal emits sounds, often high-pitched clicks or calls beyond the range of human hearing, which travel outward and bounce off objects and prey. By sensing how long the echoes take to return, the animal can judge distance, since sound takes longer to come back from farther objects. The direction and quality of the echoes reveal the size, shape, movement, and even texture of what lies ahead. Bats use this to catch flying insects in total darkness, while dolphins use it to find fish in murky water. Some blind people have even learned a form of human echolocation, making clicks with their mouths to detect obstacles. It is a remarkable example of using sound to see.