Random Thoughts

[polymath257]

Yes, we use light that has interacted with an object to get information about that object, saying we 'see' it. But, of course, what we see is the light, not the object itself.

But, in the same way, I can 'see' the air when there are heat waves or other refraction events that give information about the air. That is direct visual detection of the air via its interaction with light. We can also see how it interacts with other things. Not all detection is visual.

And, of course, if you cool air enough, you can see the liquefied oxygen, nitrogen, etc.

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Yup, that’s how it works.

Visual perception is the ability to interpret the surrounding environment using light in the visible spectrum reflected by the objects in the environment.

Boru

You can also see an object when it refracts light. For example, it is common to see water because of the way the waves refract light rather than the reflected light from the water.