DailyDirt: Some Of Magneto's Superpowers Found In Ants And Worms...

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

The ability to sense magnetic fields and control electromagnetic radiation sounds like science fiction, but there are some animals in nature that already have limited magnetosensation. Okay, frogs can't levitate by themselves spontaneously, but it's still pretty cool that migratory animals seem to be able to find their way over vast distances. Check out a few of these links on animals interacting with electromagnetic waves.

• A team of scientists and engineers have discovered an antennae-like structure in the head of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans that is a biological sensor of the Earth's magnetic field. Other animals such as migrating geese, sea turtles and wolves seem to be able to navigate according to the Earth's magnetic field, but this finding could help further explain how magnetosensation arises. [url]
• Saharan silver ants keep their bodies cool in the midday desert sun by reflecting a broad range of electromagnetic waves, so they can remain active during the hottest time of the day and avoid predatory lizards. With very little power... comes very little responsibility? [url]
• If people want to gain magnetosensation, there are some magneto-electronics that can be added to the palm of your hand. This flexible sensor is probably a bit more palatable that implanting a neodymium magnet in your finger..? [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

Filed Under: biology, c elegans, electromagnetic radiation, magnetic field, magneto-electronics, magnetosensation, senses, transhumanists