Experts reveal that humans have the ability to detect buried objects before touching them A group of researchers from Queen Mary University of London has demonstrated a series of sensory discoveries in seabirds, such as sandpipers and plovers. These birds use it to detect prey or hidden objects through mechanical signals transmitted through the environment. Dubbed the ‘seventh sense,’ it would join the six main senses, contributing greatly to the behaviour of living beings. It is known as ‘remote touch,’ which is the ability to sense objects without direct contact. This sensitivity approaches the theoretical physical threshold of what can be detected from mechanical “reflections” in granular material, when there is a movement of sand that is “reflected” on a stable surface.
Seabirds
Most seabirds are found near water, from intertidal marshes, sandy beaches and rocky coasts to freshwater wetlands, grasslands, ploughed fields and flooded farmland. Their diet is mainly based on molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms. They range in size and have an elongated beak that facilitates foraging. Their beaks have nerve endings that function as a proximity sensor. When they dig into the sand, a displacement occurs, and when the grains touch food, the bird detects it indirectly.
Scientists raise interesting questions about the nature of the sense of touch and how it can extend beyond physical contact. Presented at the IEEE International Conference on Learning and Development (ICL), they revealed the possibility that humans have a comparable ability. Elisabetta Versace, professor of psychology at Queen Mary, said, ‘This is the first time that remote touch has been studied in humans, and it changes our conception of the perceptual world.’
The study
The scientists conducted two studies. One was with humans, assessing their ability and sensitivity in their hands. According to the results, people detected buried objects before coming into contact with them. These tests demonstrate greater sensitivity in the hands than expected. The second was a robotic experiment with a tactile sensor. Both results were compared, and the results for people showed 70.7% accuracy, while the robots had a rate of 40%, as they detected objects at greater distances but generated false positives.
The research improves assistive technology and robotic tactile detection. ‘The discovery opens up possibilities for designing assistive tools that extend human tactile perception,’ says Zhengqi Chen, a PhD student at Queen Mary’s Advanced Robotics Laboratory. Its usefulness in soil operations or archaeological research is mentioned. In addition, there is the possibility of use for people with sensory, physical and cognitive disabilities. What makes this research really exciting is how human and robotic studies complemented each other. Human experiences guided the robot’s learning approach and provided new perspectives. It is a good example of how psychology, technology and artificial intelligence can come together and integrate, generating highly innovative discoveries.
