- Oh, Daniella.

(laughs) Oh, Daniella.

(speaks Spanish) Sorry, guys.

I was on the phone with my friend, Daniella.

I love talking to her.

She's so much fun and we get to practice our Spanish together.

I love learning new languages and I just love communication.

Did you know that's what we're talking about today?

We're talking about communication because it is essential for the survival of certain species.

You know, the last time we were together, we talked about adaptations or traits that help a species survive.

Well, communication is one of those, and organisms communicate in really cool ways.

So for example, let's look at this picture of these ants.

I bet you've seen a trail of ants like this before, right?

Did you know though that these ants have communicated with each other by leaving behind pheromones or chemicals?

Other ants can sense those pheromones and find the trail to the food.

Ants aren't the only animals that use pheromones to communicate.

Bees also communicate with pheromones.

Bees can tell each other things like the danger that's in the area or helping other bees find their ways back to the colony.

They do that through pheromones.

But that's not the only way to communicate.

Birds and frogs.

What sounds do they make?

That's right.

They chirp and they sing and that's an auditory signal or a sound.

That's a way that they communicate with each other.

And then there are animals like chimpanzees and chameleons.

They use visual cues or sight, things that can be seen.

Chimpanzees use hand signals and chameleons can change the color of their skin.

That's another visual cue.

And then of course, humans.

Humans have had various forms of communication throughout history.

Humans have created codes, even, that they can communicate through.

Native Americans use smoke signals and telegraph operators used Morse code.

People who are hard of hearing, or even people who aren't, use American sign language to communicate.

Have you ever seen a car race on TV?

How do they communicate?

If you guessed flags, you're right.

So, young scientists, here is your investigative assignment for today.

I want you to pretend you're playing a game of hide and go seek, and you have to find a way to communicate with your that does not involve talking.

I bet you're gonna come up with something great.

I'll see you next time.

And until then, never stop exploring and never stop discovering.