Do magnets affect animals?
Humans can use magnets for their purposes and it would be hard to imagine life without them. although they are not visible every day, these often unassuming elements are parts of many different mechanisms that we use daily. magnetic field changed by magnets does not affect humans much, but is it the same in the case of animals? can the presence of a magnet change their behavior?
Some animals have their own compass
Have you ever wondered how swallows get to warm countries? of course, they fly the shortest air route. but what pushes them in that direction? a kind of instinct? scientists have come up with two possible theories.
the first theory talks about cryptochrome protein, which is found in bird's eye. thanks to cryptochrome, birds see the earth's magnetic field. this protein also occurs in insects and other animals. it has even been discovered in humans. scientists are therefore trying to find out if a person is sensitive to recognizing magnetic fields. however, the results have not yet been confirmed.
the second theory talks about magnetoreception, the ability to move in the earth's magnetic field. magnetoreception has been discovered in some animals. these include sea turtles, crabs, fish, etc. they can sense and navigate towards the earth's magnetic field, and their own body acts like a compass.
Magnetic mountains without gravity?
There are a lot of magnetic mountains in the world, where cars or other objects are pulled in the opposite direction to that designated by gravity, that is, uphill. such paths of gravitational deviation have become very popular. there are many videos on the internet of enthusiasts testing the power of magnetic mountains. however, the truth is that it is an optical illusion. our head chooses as the horizon the hill from which the path leads downwards. therefore, the car or other object seems to be pulled against gravity.
Magnetic valleys without gravity?
However, if we look from the angle of the true horizon, we will find that the car is actually going downhill in accordance with the law of gravity. and the magnetic mountains are just an illusion.
Magnets always have two poles!
As already known from physics lessons, a magnet always has two poles – north and south. But what happens if we cut a magnet in half or bisect it? Both halves will have their own south and north poles. Farmers give cows magnets to eat. This is a technique used for many years. Sometimes a cow eats a nail or a piece of metal fence. To prevent damage to its organs, cows are given a small magnet to swallow. Although it will remain in the stomach forever, it protects them from the deadly effects of the ingested metal objects.
Magnetic field the key to the mysteryi
Most animals are naturally more sensitive to the presence of a magnetic field than humans. it has been observed that some of them only rest in a north-south line. they also use places favorable in terms of the field, although not always – for example, cats prefer to stay where many people feel bad. it is worth noting that when examining the circumstances, smells, sights, and other factors that may affect animal behavior were also taken into account, however, unlike the magnetic field, they did not matter.
Could a magnet affect the hunting efficiency of a fox?
German scientists noticed an interesting pattern of fox behavior. using phenomenal smell and hearing, these animals can locate prey hidden under thick layers of snow or grass. they then jump into the air and fall onto the prey. interestingly, their hunting efficiency increased when they positioned themselves facing northeast. whether the presence of a magnet, which changes the magnetic field, would affect the percentage of successful hunts, remains for now in the realm of speculation.
Behavioral changes in dogs in the presence of magnets
Scientists from israel conducted studies on the behavior of dogs during physiological needs. it turned out that naturally they positioned themselves similar to other animals during sleep, that is, on the north-south line. however, if a person with a magnet was nearby, the animals had trouble determining the direction and their behaviors were not so purposeful. some speculate based on this fact about using this 'sixth sense' for searches.
How can a magnet help protect sharks?
Research using magnets has shown that sharks are extremely sensitive to anomalies in the magnetic field. sensing an unwanted object in the water, they almost immediately turned back, avoiding the encounter. this is important information for scientists, especially fishermen and those involved in the protection of endangered species. if magnets could be installed on fishing nets, perhaps it would be easier for sharks to avoid getting entangled in them. this would mean their population would not be so vulnerable to the irresponsible actions of some fishermen.
animals provide scientists with new information about the impact of the magnetic field. some of this information may be used for our benefit, and others may contribute to the protection of particularly endangered species.
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#cows#magnets for cows#magnetic animalsniedziela 2022-01-02T18:00:00