Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...

How does a magnetic compass work? Well, it’s all down to basic physics and human ingenuity. The key component of a standard baseplate compass is its magnetized needle, which is allowed to spin freely ...

Most people assume a compass will behave perfectly, no matter where you take it, but the magnetic pole is a […] ...

Our planet’s magnetosphere has seen dramatic shifts across its history—even total reversals—but this recent wrinkle doesn’t ...

Some inventions are so simple that it’s hard to improve them. The magnetic compass is a great example — a magnetized needle, a bit of cork, and a bowl of water are all you need to start navigating the ...

Multiple lines of evidence suggest that pigeons sense magnetic fields by detecting electric currents in their inner ears.

Migratory birds and fish use the Earth's magnetic field to find their way. LMU researchers have now identified cells with internal compass needles for the perception of the field – and can explain why ...

Every year, great white sharks travel over 12,000 miles from South Africa to Australia, charting a nearly perfect straight line across the ocean. And every year, they turn around and travel back.

Pigeons may sense Earth's magnetic field using special cells in the inner ear. This discovery explains how they navigate long ...

"Every holiday season there is a mass migration of humans towards home and family. We use many tools to help us navigate back to the places we’re from – from ...

High voltage power lines can interfere with the ability of cows and deer to respond normally to the Earth's magnetic field, according to a team of European researchers that has been studying these ...