| archmage | Date: Friday, 13-July-2012, 9:38 AM | Message # 1 |
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-- dragon lord--
Group: lords
Messages: 3003
Status: Offline
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Trout have cells in their noses that act like miniature compasses to help them navigate, a study has shown.
The cells, which are believed to exist in other animals, contain iron-rich deposits of a magnetic material called magnetite.
They were found in trout by suspending nasal cells in a solution and moving them using a rotating magnetic field.
The cells were then separated off and examined in more detail.
Each "magnetoreceptor" cell had magnetite particles firmly anchored to its membrane.
Tests suggested the cells were capable of detecting magnetic north as well as small changes in magnetic fields.
They were about 100 times more sensitive to magnetic fields than had been expected.
Scientists have long suspected that many animals, including migratory birds, fish and even cows, possess a magnetic sense.
But although many studies have pointed to its existence, pinning down the biological mechanism involved has not been easy.
Magnetite is not uncommon in cells, but does not necessarily have anything to do with navigation.
Full article/source - http://news.sky.com/story....-riddle
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