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Scientists say dolphins have a seventh sense

Dolphin Senses - Level 0

We have five senses. Some people have six. A sixth sense is knowing something without using the five senses. Researchers have found that some dolphins have seven senses. Dolphins can sense electricity from the heart beats of sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find food.

Researchers tested what kinds of electricity dolphins could sense. They were good at sensing direct current electricity. This comes from all sea creatures. It helps dolphins to know how near other fish are to them. This can help dolphins to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well.

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Dolphin Senses - Level 1

We have five senses. Some people may have six. A sixth sense could be knowing something without using the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Researchers have found that some dolphins have seven senses. Dolphins can sense electricity from the heart beats of sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find food. It could also help them to navigate by using electricity from Earth's magnetic field.

Researchers tested what kinds of electricity dolphins could sense. They sensed two kinds. They were better at sensing direct current electricity. All sea creatures produce this. Being able to sense this helps dolphins to know how near other fish are to them. Dolphins could use this to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well. Sometimes the water is cloudy, so they cannot use their other senses.

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Dolphin Senses - Level 2

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Everyone knows we have five senses. Some people may have six senses. A sixth sense could be knowing something without using the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Researchers have discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Dolphins can sense electricity produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next meal. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic field. Dolphins also use their eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them.

The researchers conducted a study on two dolphins. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect. They sensed two kinds – direct current and alternating current. They were better at sensing direct current. All sea creatures produce direct current electricity. Being able to detect this means dolphins can sense how near other fish are to them. Dolphins could use this to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has been published in a biology journal.

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Dolphin Senses - Level 3

It is common knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they have six senses. They say their sixth sense is the ability to know something without using the ordinary five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their prey. The dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next meal. Dolphins also use their excellent eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic field.

The researchers conducted a study on two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could sense both kinds of electricity – direct current and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking up direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity in water. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the location of most kinds of fish that are near them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has been published in the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

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