Bats Radiate Animal Magnetism

February 27, 2008

The phrase "animal magnetism" may hold more truth than previously thought. Scientists from the University of Leeds and Princeton just discovered that big brown bats use a magnetic substance in their bodies that functions like a compass. The substance, magnetite, enables them to sense Earth's magnetic field. Like compass-toting scouts or campers, the detection then aids with navigation. And get this- most birds and mammals, including humans, have magnetite in their cells too. For some reason, though, we seem to have lost the ability to use it to find our way home, much to the relief of GPS car device manufacturers.

I have to wonder that, like perhaps our sense of smell, we still retain the ability, but our minds are busy handling other functions and thoughts. Remember the study not too long ago, for example, that had humans on their hands and knees sniffing the ground like dogs? We didn't perform too badly, although it was just announced yesterday that dogs can sniff through concrete, so our sniffing skills would likely never match those of canines.

Bats, as well as birds, beat us at natural navigation. Here's a big brown bat captured right when it encountered a wax moth. Something tells me the moth was a goner in frame two.

Comments

[Ben zou]

I like the articles!
I knew a lot from that which I had never knew before from!
Thanks!

[Jen Viegas]

Thanks, Ben. Your kind words are appreciated. We're going to have a guest blogger here soon and other new features are in store, so hope you'll stay with us.