By: Nicola Davis |
Pole position: human body might be able to pick up on Earth’s magnetic field
| Neuroscience | The Guardian
Scientists say there are signs of humans having a subconscious magnetic sense
It sounds like a power to be boasted of by the X-Men, but researchers say humans might have the ability to pick up on Earth’s magnetic field.
Many animals, from pigeons to turtles, use it to navigate, while research has shown cattle prefer to align themselves with the field when standing in, well, a field. Even dogs make use of it – albeit when defecating.
Related: Magnetosensitive GPS cells in the pigeon brain | Mo Costandi | Neurophilosophy blog
Related: Tiny protein ‘compasses’ found in fruit flies – and potentially humans
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world’s leading liberal voice