Magnetic Field Sensed by Gene, Study Shows
- Thread starter Tom Rankin
- Start date
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When I read the title "Magnetic Field Sensed by Gene, Study Shows," I was thinking that the article might be about Gene Daniel (old school; no need for GPS). 
Little Rickie
New member
Aborigines claim to have this sight.
We've breed it out.
una_dogger
Well-known member
Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
DougPaul
Well-known member
Ferreting out the workings of multiple mode sensory systems can be very difficult. If you block out one mode at a time, the system just keeps working using the other modes... You have to block out all modes except one and study that one. However, this still does not address possible interactions between the modes...
Homing pigeons have been found to be sensitive to magnetic fields and magnetic particles have been found in their skulls. The particles are a possible means by which the birds sense the fields. http://www2.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF3/345.html
There are also bacteria that have been shown orient to magnetic fields. They contain magnetic particles which appear to be involved and since even dead bacteria orient, they may simply be small compasses (ie the effect is purely mechanical). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetotactic_bacteria
The comment in the NYT article (but not in the research report) about Polynesian navigators seems particularly speculative--their techniques are known and are sufficient without any magnetic sense. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesian_navigation
I would call any claims that humans can orient by the earth's magnetic field to be highly speculative at this point. This article addresses a possible mechanism, but doesn't show that it is actually used.
Dr D:
My father was one of those types who was always oriented and always gave directions in terms of compass directions, but he was thoroughly disoriented after several hours down in Carlsbad Caverns. Certainly not proof of anything, but it does suggest that he was unable to use magnetic cues.
Doug
Homing pigeons have been found to be sensitive to magnetic fields and magnetic particles have been found in their skulls. The particles are a possible means by which the birds sense the fields. http://www2.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF3/345.html
There are also bacteria that have been shown orient to magnetic fields. They contain magnetic particles which appear to be involved and since even dead bacteria orient, they may simply be small compasses (ie the effect is purely mechanical). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetotactic_bacteria
The comment in the NYT article (but not in the research report) about Polynesian navigators seems particularly speculative--their techniques are known and are sufficient without any magnetic sense. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesian_navigation
I would call any claims that humans can orient by the earth's magnetic field to be highly speculative at this point. This article addresses a possible mechanism, but doesn't show that it is actually used.
Dr D:
My father was one of those types who was always oriented and always gave directions in terms of compass directions, but he was thoroughly disoriented after several hours down in Carlsbad Caverns. Certainly not proof of anything, but it does suggest that he was unable to use magnetic cues.
Doug
Jack Bauer had this gift. No matter many times he got turned around in a windowless building, and fell down stairs, and jumped and rolled to avoid gunfire.....he would always yell into his mouthpiece, "Chloe, they're heading for the southeast corner of the building!"
