Quick – can you tell where north is? Animals as diverse as sea turtles, birds, worms, butterflies and wolves can, thanks to sensing Earth’s magnetic field. But the magnet-sensing structures inside ...

Have you ever felt like your dog had a sixth sense? We know they have outstanding hearing (they’re at our door waiting when we’re a mile away from home) and an unbelievable sense of smell. But they ...

Many animals use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation. But exactly how they do this remains for the most part a mystery. At the University of Oldenburg, researchers from across disciplines are ...

Katie has a PhD in maths, specializing in the intersection of dynamical systems and number theory. She reports on topics from maths and history to society and animals. Katie has a PhD in maths, ...

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Nature has a way of sending out warnings if you know where to look. While humans rely on weather apps and satellite alerts, many animals seem to pick up on danger long before technology does. Their ...

Earth's magnetosphere is a guiding beacon for a variety of species capable of sensing its presence. Physicists have now discovered two types of sensors in animals that can detect magnetic fields close ...

Do humans still possess an ancient ability to sense changes in the Earth's magnetic field? A new study by Caltech researchers seems to indicate the possibility. Many animals in present day can sense ...

New research is revealing that baby sea turtles do not simply drift on ocean currents during their first epic journey. Instead, they carry a built‑in magnetic sense that lets them read Earth’s field ...

The earliest evidence of an internal ‘GPS’ system in an animal has been identified by researchers, which could help explain how modern birds and fish evolved the ability to use the Earth’s magnetic ...

Close your eyes and quietly repeat after me: “Om mani padme hum, om mani padme hum…” Feel anything unusual? You know, like a magnetic chill down your spine? No? Don’t feel bad. I’m just teasing.