Homing pigeons rely on iron-loaded immune cells in their livers to sense Earth’s magnetic field, a biological compass system ...

The team examined several parts of pigeons' bodies, including the eyes, beak, brain, spleen, and liver.

Magnetic fields are a fundamental part of the universe. They govern how small particles – the building blocks of planets, ...

Many members of the animal kingdom can detect the subtle undulations of Earth’s magnetic field. Relying on a hidden ...

The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals. For some scientists, the monarch butterfly is leading the way. The magnetic compass is the last unknown sense in migrating animals.

Some inventions are so simple that it’s hard to improve them. The magnetic compass is a great example — a magnetized needle, a bit of cork, and a bowl of water are all you need to start navigating the ...

The Earth's magnetic field is changing at an increasing rate, throwing off airports and altering the aurora borealis -- and its effect on ordinary compasses could mean the difference between homeward ...

The magnetic compass that birds use for orientation is affected by polarized light. That is the finding of researchers in Sweden, who studied zebra finches navigating a simple maze and found that the ...

Monarch butterflies have a keen sense of direction, even on cloudy days. This is because they have a magnetic compass to direct their migration in addition to navigating by the position of the sun, ...

Since its first documented use by the Chinese centuries ago, the magnetic compass has guided countless sailors safely across the seas. Though the compass allowed for the advent of modern navigation, ...

A compass made of light promises to be more sensitive than anything in a Boy Scout’s wildest dreams. A light beam shot through a blob of rubidium atoms can directly and reliably measure the size and ...