Special Molecule Gives Birds a Magnetic Biocompass 276

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:37PM from the bio-magneto-driver dept.

Aaron Rowe writes "CORDIS news reports that a team of scientists has identified a family of molecules called cryptochromes that allow migratory birds to sense magnetic fields. Curiously enough, these molecules only function when accompanied by blue light. The article also mentions, 'The researchers also suggest that, as cryptochromes have been strongly conserved throughout evolution, all biological organisms could have the ability to detect magnetic fields, even if they do not use them.'"

Special Molecule Gives Birds a Magnetic Biocompass

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Does this mean (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:41PM (#16086044)

/.'s can migrate to the North Pole

Hrm... (Score:5, Funny)

by PieSquared ( 867490 ) writes: <isosceles2006@gmail . c om> on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:41PM (#16086045)

Where do I sign up to get these powers enabled? I totally would go for it, even if it is a really lame 6th or 7th sense. Like, if I was lost in the woods with no cell phone and nothing to make a shadow with, and no running water... it could be mildly useful!

Radio (Score:5, Funny)

by Spazmania ( 174582 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:47PM (#16086067) Homepage

And since radio is just a modulated electromagnetic signal, we should be able to pick up Rock 'n Roll on our teeth by exposing them to blue LEDs. It remains only to train our brains to understand this new sixth sense...

Reminds me of a Bill Bailey joke (Score:4, Funny)

by Centurix ( 249778 ) writes: <centurixNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:47PM (#16086068) Homepage

Where he was reading Brief History of Time and read "light is effected by gravity", to which he concluded that it was easier to drop things in the dark.

-1 offtopic.

Mind you, maybe I could strap a blue LED to an albatross and find my way home when I'm drunk.

+1 ontopic.

Hey birds! (Score:5, Funny)

by cryptochrome ( 303529 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @09:52PM (#16086093) Journal

I'm way ahead of you.

Re:I know this is SERIOUSLY OT but I need to ask. (Score:5, Funny)

by Rix ( 54095 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:02PM (#16086141)

Oh get over it already. All of you have been running around like a little girl with a skinned knee for 5 damned years. Suck it up.

You have Navigation Lite Installed (Score:4, Funny)

by EmbeddedJanitor ( 597831 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:02PM (#16086145)

This comes bundled with Human Condtion V1.0. For $19.99 you can upgrade to Navigation Power User.... or you can wait for MS Vista.

Re:Iron in your nose (Score:5, Funny)

by Centurix ( 249778 ) writes: <centurixNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:06PM (#16086161) Homepage

With a nose the size of mine I'm not looking forward to the polar shift. I'll have to wear kneepads and a helmet.

Re:Detecting Changing Magnetic Fields (Score:3, Funny)

by ScrewMaster ( 602015 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:12PM (#16086180)

Usually that sensation is followed by the sound of a metal plate ripping through the back of your skull and adhering firmly to the inside of the scanner.

Re:Hrm... (Score:5, Funny)

by Smallpond ( 221300 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:44PM (#16086284) Homepage Journal

"Where do I sign up to get these powers enabled?"

It's a BIOS setting. You have to turn it on at conception.

Re:Hrm... (Score:3, Funny)

by ozmanjusri ( 601766 ) writes: <aussie_bob AT hotmail DOT com> on Monday September 11, 2006 @10:51PM (#16086309) Journal

You can see this the way neuton discovered it
Are you referring to the legendary Jake Neuton, illegitimate scion of a brief, but passionate affair between Sir Isaac Newton and an uncharged subatomic particle, and author of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Typographica?

Re:My brother-in-law does sense it (Score:5, Funny)

by Doc Ruby ( 173196 ) writes: on Monday September 11, 2006 @11:42PM (#16086471) Homepage Journal

6/20 vision [wikipedia.org] (assuming you're using the British/meters notation) means your friend had to stand 6 meters from something that others can see clearly at 20 meters. The only doctors wanting to study those eyes would be optometrists wanting to sell him glasses.

Re:Hrm... (Score:4, Funny)

by JeffSh ( 71237 ) writes: <jeffslashdot.m0m0@org> on Monday September 11, 2006 @11:43PM (#16086476)

i wonder if i can reboot...

Re:Hrm... (Score:3, Funny)

by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @12:11AM (#16086574)
It's a BIOS setting. You have to turn it on at conception.
You may be able to hack the setting w/o a reboot,
but be sure to backup your data first.
- Please insert a floppy or thumb (disk)...
Re:I'm disappointed... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @12:12AM (#16086579)

Noone else knew how to spell it. Nerd.

(I kid, I kid. In fact I just finished watching The Empire Strikes Back not 5 minutes ago and came straight to slashdot)

Unable to test their hypothesis on migratory birds (Score:2, Funny)

by hastati ( 956528 ) writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @12:38AM (#16086632)

Yes you can. Just remove the cryptochromes and see if they can find their way. I'm sure we could just sew them back on afterward.

Credit Card Validation (Score:3, Funny)

by Dareth ( 47614 ) writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @08:57AM (#16087890)

We should be training these birds for credit card validation...

One quack good/accepted, two quacks bad/rejected.

Definately better than those stupid card swipe machines!

Similar talent... (Score:3, Funny)

by Dareth ( 47614 ) writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @09:00AM (#16087897)

I appear to have a similar talent, but mine only manifests when I am driving another nail into the wall.

Re:misread you. (Score:3, Funny)

by ceoyoyo ( 59147 ) writes: on Tuesday September 12, 2006 @11:35AM (#16088771)

No way, that stuff messes up your brain! Math just... okay, math messes up your brain too.

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Special Molecule Gives Birds a Magnetic Biocompass 276

Special Molecule Gives Birds a Magnetic Biocompass More Login

Special Molecule Gives Birds a Magnetic Biocompass

Does this mean (Score:1, Funny)

Hrm... (Score:5, Funny)

Radio (Score:5, Funny)

Reminds me of a Bill Bailey joke (Score:4, Funny)

Hey birds! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:I know this is SERIOUSLY OT but I need to ask. (Score:5, Funny)

You have Navigation Lite Installed (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Iron in your nose (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Detecting Changing Magnetic Fields (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Hrm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hrm... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:My brother-in-law does sense it (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hrm... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Hrm... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:I'm disappointed... (Score:1, Funny)

Unable to test their hypothesis on migratory birds (Score:2, Funny)

Credit Card Validation (Score:3, Funny)

Similar talent... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:misread you. (Score:3, Funny)

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