Why in news
The science behind pirates’ night vision and their use of eye patches is gaining attention.
It explores how pirates may have used eye patches to adapt their vision for nighttime navigation and combat.
Functioning of Rhodopsin
Rhodopsin is a biological pigment that is very sensitive to light.
When one is in a perfectly lighted room and turns off the light, the pupil expands to let in more light.
Even though their pupil allows in more light, it is insufficient for them to see in the dark.
This occurs when the structure of rhodopsin in the rods splits into a few different compounds and sends a signal to the optic nerve, allowing their eyes to process even the tiniest light.
However, in complete darkness, the chemical rhodopsin is not formed.
It takes 10-30 minutes for the eye to recombine those molecules and restore proper vision.
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