Echolocation is a natural phenomenon used by certain animals, such as bats and dolphins, to navigate and locate objects in their environment by emitting sound waves and analyzing the echoes that bounce back. This ability allows these animals to "see" in darkness or murky water, or to locate prey with incredible accuracy. Researchers study echolocation to better understand how these animals process auditory information, how they adapt their behavior in different environments, and how this ability can be applied in human technology, such as in sonar systems.