Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers - Gizmodo Comments

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

D.LYTE — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:53:04 EDT

plural of goose = geese

plural of moose = moose

plural of elk = elk

so why not a herd of meese? or elks?

true story. my high school mascot was an elk. we were the elkton elks. it wasn't until years later that i approached our superintendent and said, "you know, our mascot isn't really even a word. there is no such thing as elks." he looked at me strangely. had i been in high school, i can assume i would have been in detention for a few days after school.

oh well.

D.LYTE

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

ajcali08 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:28:44 EDT

Too bad when Mr. Moose hears a "bang" he's already dead.

ajcali08

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Skeptical_Geezer — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:28:01 EDT

Why is it that moose (mooses?) need better hearing? To be able to hear where they dropped their iPhone by listening for the ring!

Skeptical_Geezer

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

thebear91 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:47:40 EDT

Fortunately (or unfortunately), they ignore most sounds and use their eyes to determine danger.

I've ran up on plenty of moose on snowmobiles and boats.

thebear91

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

mtopper — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:07:42 EDT

@GotMex?:

my hands wont conform to a parabola shape. will a nipple and breast shape work?

mtopper

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

GotMex? — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:54:55 EDT

They don't really amplify the sound. To do that you need some sort of amp that actually takes the sound signal and amplifies it. This is just physics where the antlers focus the sound towards a specific region. Try cupping your hands behind your ears in a parabola shape for a similar effect.

GotMex?

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

mtopper — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:42:56 EDT

@Curves:

I'm wit ya. And for the record, I am usually at least a beat and a half behind everybody else (without alchohol). Liking the weather changes lately?

mtopper

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Angelo Brisimitzakis — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:30:41 EDT

Is there an iPod in that boombox? I think so :)

[www.lehigh.edu]

Angelo Brisimitzakis

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

gibson042 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:16:53 EDT

@YankBoffin: I would argue that the fact of significant sound amplification by moose antlers is indication in itself of some evolutionary advantage. It seems probable, for example, that bulls with better hearing could find mates more quickly, efficiently, and often. Be careful that you don't limit their uses to display and competition in the face of obvious counter-evidence, especially when the "new" use doesn't affect either.

gibson042

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

bombastinator — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:27:23 EDT

I wonder if this will affect antenna or hearing aid design in any way. Do the horn stubs contribute for instance? Are there lessons to be learned about bone conduction?

bombastinator

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

ANoel — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:10:19 EDT

I call BULLWINKLE!

ANoel

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

YankBoffin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:09:09 EDT

Seems more coincidental than anything. Antlers are for display and competition; their funky shape evolved through species recognition. Why does a full-grown bull moose need to improve it's hearing? To my knowledge nothing preys on a mature bull moose (except occasional hunters, but that's more recent).

I'm not saying this isn't interesting, but to be careful what conclusions you draw from it.

YankBoffin

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

EskimoDave — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:23:20 EDT

Probably why I only see cows and young bulls when I'm hunting.

EskimoDave

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

mcsurfer3393 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:37:17 EDT

That pic is my new wallpaper! ha!

mcsurfer3393

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

roni26 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:19:02 EDT

Okay. But are the moose pissed off about the lousey programing on radio?

roni26

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Curves — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:39:24 EDT

@mtopper: That picture cracked me up so much, I just got a mental pic of him doing the half-beat-off-everyone-else-shaking-his-groove-thang-white-guy-dance. (Hey, I do the white girl thang in 4" heels, imagine how funny that looks especally if you add alcohol.)

Curves

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

jetexas — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:32:27 EDT

Are they more efficient than those batman phones? Perhaps we should be hawking antlers to old people ...

jetexas

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

mtopper — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:31:27 EDT

@Curves:

AND WHAT WOULD BE WRONG WITH THAT?????????

mtopper

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Stalhandske — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:42:17 EDT

Ok they got some numbers but this have been known for like 30 years maybe? I have a friend that have a picture confirming the moose running away with his rifle on the antlers, they thought it was dead and was going to take a posing picture.

Stalhandske

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Curves — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:21:13 EDT

Best picture ever; you have to love a happy Moose. I wonder if he dances like a white guy.

Curves

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

discounteggroll — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:19:26 EDT

moose's still gotta pay the subscription fee for XM though

discounteggroll

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

Git Em SteveDave — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:13:25 EDT

I remember learning this at a zoo when I was a kid. They had these mock up of different animal ears you could stick your head in that pointed at a open area near a food court, and you could hear better.

Git Em SteveDave