(Lund, Sweden) — New research suggests some birds can actually physically see magnetic fields. Birds use magnetism to navigate, especially in massive migrations over thousands of miles. Scientists in Sweden have identified a substance in the eyes of robins and zebra finches that could allow them to see the fields. The protein, called Cry4, was found in parts of the eye that depend on light, suggesting that sensing magnetic fields could be light dependent. The research also found that while the protein increased in advance of migratory trips, there was no increase in the eyes of birds that stay in one place, like chickens. The findings were published in the journal “Current Biology.”
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Mark Lineberger
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04-08-2018 01:14:05
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