Across Species, Biological Rhythms Share a Common Speed

A new study finds that diverse organisms—from fireflies to humans—produce rhythmic signals within a narrow frequency band of about 0.5 to 4 hertz. Researchers analyzed animal communication studies and wildlife recordings, discovering that many species cluster around 2 to 3 hertz, similar to the tempo of most popular music. The findings suggest that shared constraints on perceiving or producing rhythms may explain this convergence.