Who are the Moken nomads?
They are an indigenous Austronesian sea nomad community that has been living on the Andaman Sea in Thailand and Myanmar for centuries. Roughly 2,000 to 7,000 people belong to this community, and they live on a kabang ( a traditional wooden houseboat). The Moklen language is mainly spoken, but they don’t have a written alphabet. Fishing, diving, and gathering shellfish are their main ways of living. They basically lived on seafood like fish, squid, and boiled mollusks and traded staples like rice.
What is their superhuman ability?
Moken people can see underwater clearly. Studies show that their underwater vision is twice as clear as that of European kids.
How can Moken nomads see underwater?
This skill is mostly developed in their childhood. Moken children spend hours freediving for clams, sea cucumbers, and shellfish. They constrict their pupils to a tiny pinhole size to adjust their lens into the water; it’s the opposite of a normal eye. Instead of wide pupils, pupil constriction helps them to see underwater clearly.
Can we develop this superhuman skill?
We cannot see clearly underwater without assistance because our eyes are made for air. But studies suggest that children can develop this skill as their eyes are more flexible. They can adjust their pupils through practice. But in adults, the development of this skill isn’t possible due to the lack of flexibility in their eyes.
The human body is a complex system. It has many hidden features that we still don’t know. The versatile life of humans impacts the bodies differently. Sometimes this may unlock hidden features of our body. So scientists should research the tribes and their indigenous practices to know their impact on the human body.
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MBH/PS