Magnetism the 6th Sense. Do Humans Have It?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the phenomenon of magnetoreception in animals, particularly cattle, as explored in the study by Sabine Begall et al. (2008). The study suggests that cattle align themselves along the north-south axis, indicating a potential magnetic sense. However, participants express skepticism regarding the study's methodology, which relied on satellite images and lacked controlled observations. The conversation highlights the need for more rigorous research to confirm magnetoreception in mammals, including humans, and questions the evolutionary basis for such a sense.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of magnetoreception and its implications in animal behavior.
  • Familiarity with the study "Magnetic alignment in grazing and resting cattle and deer" published in PNAS.
  • Knowledge of research methodologies in zoology, particularly observational studies.
  • Basic principles of geomagnetism and its effects on navigation in animals.
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate advanced research techniques for studying animal magnetoreception.
  • Explore the implications of magnetoreception on animal migration patterns.
  • Review literature on the evolutionary biology of sensory systems in mammals.
  • Examine the role of environmental factors, such as wind direction, in animal orientation studies.
USEFUL FOR

Researchers in zoology, animal behaviorists, evolutionary biologists, and anyone interested in the sensory capabilities of animals and their navigation methods.

  • #31
This got me to thinking about google maps. I did not find any cows, but I think I found cow shadows.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.557732,-95.151641&spn=0.000652,0.000862&t=h&z=20
The image seems fast enough to capture cars on the interstate.

As far as the original question, I read in Scientific American about Birds using the difference in the polarized sky, to tell direction. I tried it and in fact the north/south sky
looks very different than the east/west sky.
 
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  • #32
.Here in Bali the natives have excellent sense of direction. It would be worth testing. I'd do it myself, but a rigorous experiment is too expensive. It takes a soundproof room and some sort of randomized mechanically rotating chair, I think. All directional clues other than mag must be removed.

Come to think of it, not even that would work if the clues come from natural sunlight. How could that experiment be done? I don't know.
 

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