The magnetic sense in migratory birds has been studied in considerable detail: unlike a boy scout's compass, which shows the compass direction, a bird's compass recognizes the inclination of the ...

It’s now winter in Europe and many small birds are well on their way to warmer climes, migrating over large tracts of land in search of better weather. Along the way, they keep their course with a ...

The astonishing navigational skills of birds, bats and fish and their ability to use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation have been the focus of the Collaborative Research Centre ...

The “sixth sense” birds use to visualise Earth’s magnetic field has been demystified, as two teams of scientists claim to have identified the source of their powers. Birds are known to navigate using ...

In retrospect, the helmet should have been a clue... Of all the super-senses that animals possess, the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field must be the most puzzling. We’ve known that birds can ...

Cryptochromes are light-sensitive molecules that exist in bacteria, plants and animals. In animals, they are involved in the control of the body's circadian rhythms. In birds, cryptochromes are also ...