Interesting Magnet Fact:
In 1999 Professor Orley Taylor and colleagues (University of Kansas)
published their findings on the study of Monarch butterflies, 100 million of
which, annually migrate 500 miles from breeding grounds in the States to
wintering homes in Mexico. Previous research suggested that they navigated
using the Sun but new research shows that they respond to magnetic cues in
the environment. In a reversed magnetic field the butterflies fly north
eastwards instead of south westwards for their autumn migration, when
placed in a large room screened from magnetic fields they fly in random
directions, and when subjected to strong magnetic pulses they become
confused. The butterflies are thought to use magnetic materials present
in their head and thorax as a built-in compass.
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