Birds have the ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field, and now scientists believe that they may actually "see" it with their eyes. According to a study posted on PLoS, a molecule known to be in birds' eyes that is sensitive to magnetic fields is directly linked to a part of birds' brains where visual information is processed.
I see London. I see France...
As the study puts it, "In garden warblers, Sylvia borin, the cryptochrome-expressing retinal ganglion cells and a neuronal cluster located in posterolateral regions of both forebrain hemispheres ("Cluster N") show high, sensory-driven neuronal activity as indicated by the expression of the Immediate Early Gene ZENK during magnetic orientation [12]-[14]..."
Ok, we have no idea what that sentence means, but the point of the study is that birds can see magnetic fields...or....something.
Two, well trained (and armed) special forces members as seen through the eyes of a bird in a South American jungle.
At any rate, the study sheds light on how migratory birds can consistently find their way across large distances, through all different weather conditions, year after year, without any electronic equipment. Scientists are speculating that the birds can align themselves with a magnetic compass that is actually in their field of vision. How they manage to so accurately crap on our heads, however, remains a mystery.
Life Science
Comments
I want one of those molecules in my eye!
Posted by: Homie Bear | September 28, 2007 8:04 PM
Does it make the bionic noise like Steve Austin's eyes did?
Posted by: John McKay | September 28, 2007 8:12 PM
I really enjoy reading Zooillogix. Please do post more often!
Talking about birds crapping on our heads, one managed to do it when I was running in a 100m sprint. To think of the probability of parabolically moving crap falling on a linearly moving tuft of hair is simply beyond me.
Posted by: Aditya | September 29, 2007 2:54 AM
Aditya, that you're moving doesn't matter unless the bird was aiming for you. And even then, modulo wind resistance, all the bird has to do is match your velocity and bombs away.
Posted by: AP | September 30, 2007 2:49 PM
I enjoy reading Zooillogix also. It'll be great to do such kind of posts more often!
Posted by: Tender | October 12, 2007 2:54 AM