Strange Discoveries: Cow Magnetism and Magpie Self-Identity
Amazing Animal Talents That Somehow Went Unnoticed Until Now
Yet the animals regularly align their bodies in roughly a magnetic north-south direction when grazing or resting.
Why they do it is a mystery. They scientists note that "our findings open horizons for the study of magneto-reception in general and are of potential significance" for animal husbandry and welfare.
They add that the findings challenge neuroscientists and biophysicists to explain how this magnetic "sixth sense" works.
The findings are based on field observations of 2,974 deer in 241 locations in the Czech Republic and satellite images of 8,510 cattle in 308 pastures and plains around the world seen through the computer program Google Earth.
The scientists ruled out the direction of wind and sunlight as reasons for the animals' consistent north-south orientation because these varied widely in the different locations. That left magnetic alignment as what the scientists call "the most parsimonious explanation."
Our animal companions probably have more undiscovered talents. Some of them may give insight into humanity's own evolution as part of life on Earth.
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