Congratulations to our 2025 winner, Amelia from Adamstown Community College. Amelia explored how physics shapes the way animals perceive the world. Take a look at her entry and cover letter.
From light waves to sound vibrations to magnetic fields, animals use the laws of physics to build their own unique perception of the world that help them “see” it differently.
The mantis shrimp, for example, can detect up to 16 types of colour receptors, including ultraviolet, giving it access to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum we can’t even imagine. Bats, on the other hand, navigate through sound, using echolocation, Interpreting reflected sound waves and the Doppler effect to “see” in complete darkness. Migratory birds are believed to sense Earth’s magnetic field, guiding them across continents. Even our pets, dogs and cats, rely on dichromatic vision, aiding them in detecting motion and contrast but limited to shades of blue and yellow.
Although it might not what we think of when we imagine seeing the world. Physics helps us realise that there’s no one “true” version of reality, only different ways to sense it.
