Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Sensor to detect Earth’s magnetic field discovered in an animal for very first time

Researchers have discovered an organic sensor capable of detecting the Earth's magnetic field in an earthworm

It has been a long-held belief in scientific circles that many creatures navigate across land, through water, and through the skies using the Earth’s magnetic field for guidance. Now scientists and engineers working at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) have finally discovered the organic mechanism responsible for this in an animal. Looking just like a microscopic TV antenna, the structure has been found in the brain of a tiny earthworm that uses it to work out which way to burrow through the soil. This breakthrough discovery may help scientists discover how other species with internal compasses use the magnetic field of our planet to pilot their course.

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Section: Science

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from Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine http://ift.tt/1fiolNv

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