Cryptochromes and Blue Light Give Birds and Plants a Magnetic Sense

 If it were not for the fact that you would have to be born with these or at least have replacement eyes with these molecules in them, this would be very cool. I wonder what it would look like? Maybe a slight glow to the north, or maybe it would be like looking at the sky through polarized glasses.

Some birds, notably migratory species, are able to detect the Earth’s magnetic field and use it to navigate. New results from a team of Franco-German researchers suggest that light-sensitive molecules called cryptochromes could be the key to the birds’ magnetic sense.

[via slashdot] 

Scientists discover molecule behind birds’ magnetic sense