What does a magnetic field feel like?

[DaveC426913]

TL;DR Summary

Birds - and now dogs - have been found to sense Earth's mag field. What does that feel like?

https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/01/03/dogs-sense-Earth's-magnetic-field/


"...the first study showing a mammal not only being able to sense it, but also to exhibit a specific behavior in response to natural magnetic field variations. "

In my view, dogs are nearer human consciousness than birds. They might be more relatable to us.

What do you suppose a dog feels when it senses the field and orients itself accordingly? Do you think it is conscious of the sense?



Similar to What is it Like to be a Bat? I suppose, but still...

 

[jedishrfu]

That's an interesting question.

Based on this article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoreception

Some birds and humans have the cryptochrome protein in their eyes which can via a radical pairs mechanism CIDNP create a bluish light. This means that if you could see the field you might see a bluishness in some preferred directions.

 

[256bits]

The dog study. Too complicated for me.
https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1742-9994-10-80

No mention of why dogs tend to turn around several times before doing #2.
Or why one spot looks good, but isn't, and the dog goes to search out and test another spot of possible acceptable quality.

 

[256bits]

Veritasium on human detection of magnetic field.
Alpha brain wave drop in power.


Also,
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2018/10/20/448449.full.pdf