Scientists have just invented a video camera that lets you see how animals see color.

Scientists say they have invented technology that will allow us to see through an animal’s eyes better than ever. The technology uses a combination of new hardware and software to create images and videos that accurately convey the colors that animals such as bees and birds see. In a new study released this week, the team found that their innovation nearly matches the accuracy of traditional, albeit more limited, methods used to detect color vision in animals.

Human vision, of course, is not far behind. For example, compared to most other animals, we see much better. sharpness and detailBut some animals have their own unique visual abilities, such as the ability to perceive wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye. the world around them. Scientists have been able to create images of the colors that animals see using images of false flowers. But while the methods used today to create these images are reliably accurate, they also require a lot of effort to implement and have clear limitations. , for example, working only with still images under certain lighting conditions.

A team of researchers from the UK and US believe they have now developed a more versatile and dynamic method for translating animal facial expressions. color vision for our eyes. It is designed to work by combining existing photography techniques with new hardware and software.

“The system works by splitting light between two cameras, with one camera sensitive to ultraviolet light and the other to visible light. light. This separation of ultraviolet light from visible light is achieved using a piece of optical glass called a beam splitter. This optical component reflects ultraviolet light like a mirror, but transmits visible light like clear glass,” the study says. Authors Daniel Hanley, assistant professor of biology at George Mason University, and Vera Vasas, biologist at Queen Mary University of London. ,” he told Gizmodo in a joint email. “In this way, the system can simultaneously capture light in four different wavelength ranges: ultraviolet, blue, green and red.”

The team’s software then converts the data received from the cameras into “perceptual units” corresponding to the known sensitivity of the animal’s photoreceptors. there you can create truly accurate moving images or, for the first time, videos of the colors seen in the world by non-human animals, scientists say.

“The idea of ​​UV etching has been around for a long time, but there have been relatively few attempts due to the technical difficulties involved. Interestingly, the first UV video published was dated 1969!” — said Hanley and Vasas. a valuable degree of scientific rigor that allows our videos to be used for scientific purposes.”

In his article describing the technology, published In PLOS Biology on Tuesday, researchers tested their camera system to broadcast the colors seen by bees and the average UV-sensitive bird. objects such as butterflies. They also compared the system’s results with those obtained using spectrophotometry, the gold standard method used to create fake images. color images. Depending on environmental conditions, their system’s accuracy ranged from 92 to 99 percent.

The team is already planning to use their new technology to enhance future nature documentaries. Their work is funded by the National Geographic Society and the team includes award-winning nature photographer and filmmaker Neil Losin. They also believe that this system will allow them to make new scientific discoveries.

“We have several ideas that we plan to discuss with our chamber, but the most interesting issues will be those that we have yet to consider,” Hanley and Vasas said. “It’s only now that we’re starting to make videos about the natural world that we’re starting to see how much information there is out there.”

The researchers already have two systems running and are preparing to build a third, but they also hope others will be inspired to replicate. his technology too. They point out that all of their equipment is based on readily available commercially available cameras and parts, and they’ve even made their software open source so people can study it and tweak it to their liking.

“We intentionally made all of this open access specifically to encourage the research and film community to adapt and improve the system,” they said. . “We believe this will accelerate development for the benefit of everyone.