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Published online 24 November 2004 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news041122-7
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Homing pigeons reveal true magnetism
Iron crystals in their beaks give birds a nose for north.
It's official: homing pigeons really can sense Earth's magnetic field. An investigation of their ability to detect different magnetic fields shows that their impressive navigation skills almost certainly relies on tiny magnetic particles in their beaks.
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