Pigeons' sixth sense eludes scientists

[Still Waters]

How pigeons are able to detect magnetic fields to navigate their way home remains a mystery, say researchers.

Biologist Dr Jeremy Shaw, from the University of Western Australia, and colleagues, report their findings today in the journal Nature.

"At this stage it's still that needle-in-a-haystack problem," says Shaw.

Behavioural studies show that pigeons are able to detect magnetic fields.

Finding the cells that are responsible for this magnetic sense has eluded scientists.

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[Rolci]

so we fly into space, read brainwaves, have smartphones and wireless internet, but we don't know how the pigeon on our rooftop finds its way. I really do find that interesting.

[ollyhw45]

Maby they dont use the magnetic field...maby it just seems like they do lol

[Technocrat]

They use their sense of smell, it's as simple as that!

[Simbi Laveau]

Funny,I was just thinking with the coming of the new world order,we need to start using homing pigeons again.

[Aus Der Box Skeptisch]

Funny,I was just thinking with the coming of the new world order,we need to start using homing pigeons again.

Lol nwo that's funny... that was meant as a joke right? If mpt I apologize.

[Karlis]

Seriously -- the Jokes and Humour forum board is > here.

[Artaxerxes]

I guarantee you it has something to do with the holographic nature of our universe. That connectedness/oneness thing of a holographic piece of film. The information is somehow spread throughout their entire brains and they form a picture inside of their skulls that is like a map of where they are going.

[Arawyn]

hmm, maybe the pigeons have tiny magnetic particles in their brains that react to the magnetic fields? Sounds like that would make sense.