One-fifth of all mammals in the world are bats - so why are they so stigmatized in Western culture? These fascinating creatures have a lot to teach us, with their uniquely high metabolic rates, surprisingly long lifespans and specialised fantastic senses. This lecture will tell you about the new discoveries made in studies of mammalian phylogenetics and comparative genomics, focusing mainly on bat biology and the bat's genetic signatures of survival which enables them live far longer than expected and hear far better than other mammals. You will learn how studying and conserving these amazing animals can improve our health and preserve our environments.