Using a magnetic compass to calculate the current in a wire. Learn how magnetic fields, compass deflection, and basic electromagnetism principles connect in a practical physics experiment.

You may have seen headlines or social media posts talking about a weakening of Earth’s magnetic field, specifically over the South Atlantic. It sounds dramatic, and a little scary. Is Earth losing its ...

In experiments with 27 pigeons in Munich, Germany, researchers found that magnetic sensing originates in the inner ear, where movement generates minute electrical signals. Brain mapping revealed that ...

The Earth’s magnetic field plays a big role in protecting people from hazardous radiation and geomagnetic activity that could affect satellite communication and the operation of power grids. And it ...

For more than a century, scientists have wondered how pigeons and other birds navigate across vast distances without getting lost. One promising answer may lie deep inside their inner ears. It’s been ...

In 1882, the French Naturalist Camille Viguier was among the first to propose the existence of a magnetic sense. His speculation proved correct. Many animals—from bats, to migratory birds and sea ...

Pigeons can sense Earth’s magnetic field by detecting tiny electric currents in their inner ears, a team of researchers suggests. Such an inner compass could help to explain how certain animals can ...

This could be bad news for satellites and spacefarers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A weak spot in Earth's protective magnetic ...