Editing Polarization (waves) (section)

=== Polarization and vision ===
Many [[animal]]s are capable of perceiving some of the components of the polarization of light, e.g., linear horizontally polarized light. This is generally used for navigational purposes, since the linear polarization of sky light is always perpendicular to the direction of the sun. This ability is very common among the [[insect]]s, including [[bee]]s, which use this information to orient their [[Bee learning and communication|communicative dances]].<ref name="Pye2001" />{{rp|102–103}} Polarization sensitivity has also been observed in species of [[octopus]], [[squid]], [[cuttlefish]], and [[mantis shrimp]].<ref name="Pye2001" />{{rp|111–112}} In the latter case, one species measures all six orthogonal components of polarization, and is believed to have optimal polarization vision.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Sonja Kleinlogel|author2=Andrew White| title=The secret world of shrimps: polarisation vision at its best| journal=PLOS ONE| date=2008|pmid=18478095|pmc=2377063| doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0002190 |doi-access=free|volume=3|issue=5|pages=e2190|bibcode=2008PLoSO...3.2190K |arxiv=0804.2162}}</ref> The rapidly changing, vividly colored skin patterns of cuttlefish, used for communication, also incorporate polarization patterns, and mantis shrimp are known to have polarization selective reflective tissue. Sky polarization was thought to be perceived by [[pigeon]]s, which was assumed to be one of their aids in [[homing pigeon|homing]], but research indicates this is a popular myth.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Nuboer|first1=J. F. W.|last2=Coemans|first2=M. a. J. M.|last3=Vos Hzn|first3=J. J.|date=1995-02-01|title=No evidence for polarization sensitivity in the pigeon electroretinogram|url=https://jeb.biologists.org/content/198/2/325|journal=Journal of Experimental Biology|language=en|volume=198|issue=2|pages=325–335|doi=10.1242/jeb.198.2.325|issn=0022-0949|pmid=9317897|doi-access=free|bibcode=1995JExpB.198..325H |access-date=2019-08-27|archive-date=2019-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827032524/https://jeb.biologists.org/content/198/2/325|url-status=live}}</ref>

The naked [[human eye]] is weakly sensitive to polarization, without the need for intervening filters. Polarized light creates a very faint pattern near the center of the visual field, called [[Haidinger's brush]]. This pattern is very difficult to see, but with practice one can learn to detect polarized light with the naked eye.<ref name="Pye2001" />{{rp|118}}