Hi there, it's Matt here and welcome back to the podcast. Today we're venturing beyond sleep

and exploring an exciting new realm of brain science. Today we're demolishing one of neuroscience's

most persistent myths. That echo location belongs exclusively to bats and dolphins. The reality,

peer-reviewed research now suggests that every single human brain carries the neural

hogware for biological sonar or echolocation. We'll journey through the physics of soundscapes, meet blind pioneers who've

redefined perception, examine controlled studies where cited individuals learned to see with sound

and grapple with mind-bending questions about consciousness itself. This isn't theoretical speculation. It's documented

reality captured in brain scanners and lived daily by those who navigate through echoes. Let's start

with the beautiful physics that makes echo location possible. If light is nature's high-speed broadband

internet, then sound is its reliable cellular network slower but working everywhere, even in

complete darkness. Think of it like the difference between a fiber optic cable and old school dial-up internet.

Both get you connected just through different pathways.

Biological sonar operates through four elegant steps, like a perfectly choreographed dance.

Step number one, humans generate sharp clicks by snapping the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

A crisp tick sound lasting just milliseconds. It's like snapping your fingers, but with your tongue.

Step number two, propagation. Sound travels at 343 meters per second,

spreading in spherical waves like ripples in a three-dimensional pond. Step number three,

reflection. When waves encounter objects, they bounce back based on principles Lord Rayleigh figured out way back in 1877.

Different materials respond like different personalities at a party. Hard surfaces like glass

are the show-offs reflecting 99% of sound energy in bright, clear echoes. Meanwhile, soft materials like

curtains are the wallflowers, absorbing 70% of the sound and returning only muffled whispers.

Finally, step number four, your ears capture returning signals and your brain performs computational miracles

...