Interpreting signals to draw relevant conclusions is a hallmark of life. In this talk, we will consider several vignettes that highlight how living systems sense and respond to complex environments. From spatiotemporal biology problems involving PDEs and stochastics to intracellular processes modeled by ODES to using genAI activities in math courses, we will traverse a variety of modeling frameworks and areas where signal interpretation is vital for success. Specific application areas include fertility, blood clotting, bacterial locomotion, and, most recently, the calculus classroom.