Earlier this week, a team of researchers released an image of what is allegedly a replication of how dolphins see humans, as previously reported by HNGN. The image was taken at the Dolphin Discovery Center in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, and was supposedly created by measuring the echolocation beam that was aimed at a diver using high-specification audio equipment. However, doubts about the validity of the research are being raised due to the fact that no peer-reviewed journals or studies have been released on the finding, according to The Washington Post.
In the press release detailing the research, mention of the CymaScope, a device that "imprints sonic vibrations on the surface of ultra pure water," is referenced as the device that caught the image. Despite its importance in the research, no details of this device can be found anywhere, and the efforts of other researchers to gain insight into it have failed thus far.
Jack Kassewitz, head researcher of the project, doesn't think that the lack of a peer-reviewed paper is cause for concern.
"I happen to believe in open source publishing," he said. "I know that this discovery is pissing off and shaking off a lot of people. I'm not going to hide it. People will say this can't be. My response to that is, well, are you a physicist? Can you show me the math that shows it can't be?"
Despite his claims, until a peer-reviewed scientific journal is released the doubts over the validity of the picture will likely linger.
"This information is just from a press release, which anyone can put out without external checks," said Kelly Jaakola, director of research at the Dolphin Research Center. "This hasn't been published in a scientific journal or even presented at a scientific conference. Science has peer review for a reason. So unless/until it's been vetted by other scientists, there's no scientific 'result' to talk about."
