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DUNE Science: SANDWORM Similarities to Real Animals

Astrophysicist Andy Howell compares the Sandworms in DUNE with real animals on Earth that have similar senses.

Science vs Cinema

2 weeks ago

Sandworms can detect any regular vibrations which puts nearly everyone in the desert in a constant state of peril. There are plenty of animals on Earth that have similar senses. Horn desert vipers rest their jaws on the ground that allows them to locate prey by sensing vibrations. Golden moles don't have eyes but they dip their heads into the sand to sense vibrations from termite mounds. Lots of species tap their feet in patterns called “foot drumming” to communicate with each other. Some s
piders can also listen to the vibrations in their webs to sense if they're damaged or if any prey have been trapped. Assassin Bugs even pluck the webs of spiders to emulate trapped creatures then ambush the spider when it investigates! That's similar to the “thumpers” used to attract Sandworms in Dune.

Comments

@cyberflightfpv4184

The reason snakes lost their jaw on the ground is because they have an inner ear similar to ours, except that it is connected directly to the jaw bone

@ian1231100

Guess what? We can also sense vibration of air molecules. It's called hearing.

@StoryFacets

Nature Science is awesome!

@krombopulos_michael

Whoa, this channel finally came back

@markfergerson2145

Scorpions have flexible places in their leg segments that are loaded with sensory nerves that let them feel ground vibrations from the movements of potential prey near them.

@psilocybicacid7667

Baluga whales have a giant soft fat deposit on their forehead to sense vibrations in the water too

@GiliGulu1969

Don't birds tap the ground to simulate rainfall, so earthworms will come to the surface?

@Huntress_Hannah

Assassin bugs wild lol

@stephanwatson7902

This is an interesting concept for a channel actually

@patrickmccurry1563

Assassin bugs just ringing the doorbell, "Candygram." MONCH!

@joshpalmtreez2409

Send this to neil degrasse tyson

@bobdobbs1308

He forgot to mention Graboids

@iosiasaemilius2795

ALASKAN BULLWORMMM

@thevoicelessmoon3329

Nature is terrifying

@dathomirpizzagirl9686

Elephants can also sense vibrations from very far away

@rivalifritdarc2481

But can they master Metal bending?

@DayleonFefe

Off topic, but you look like Diet Ron Pearlman

@dylan4125

If you walk without rhythm, then you won't attract the worm

@harrybeaumont2251

You seem nice. Cheers to the algorithm, I liked as well but I don't sub on a first date