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Related Concept Videos

Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Diamagnetism01:26

Diamagnetism

Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability01:31

Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability

In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Paramagnetism01:30

Paramagnetism

Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...
Ferromagnetism01:31

Ferromagnetism

Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...

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Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish
07:47

Assessing the Influence of Personality on Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields in Zebrafish

Published on: March 18, 2019

Avian magnetite-based magnetoreception: a physiologist's perspective.

Hervé Cadiou1, Peter A McNaughton

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK. herve.cadiou@u-bourgogne.fr

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|January 29, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Birds use magnetite, a magnetic mineral, for navigation during migration. This review explores the evidence for this magnetite-based mechanism and proposes refined models for how birds sense magnetic fields.

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Area of Science:

  • * Biophysics
  • * Animal Behavior
  • * Neurobiology

Background:

  • * Animals, particularly birds, utilize Earth's magnetic field for long-distance migration and navigation.
  • * The precise mechanisms by which animals detect magnetic fields (magnetoreception) and convert this into biological signals are not fully understood.
  • * Magnetite, a ferromagnetic mineral, has been observed in various organisms, including birds, and is hypothesized to play a role in magnetoreception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To review existing evidence supporting a magnetite-based magnetoreception mechanism in birds.
  • * To introduce physiological concepts to enhance and refine current models of avian magnetoreception.

Main Methods:

  • * Review of existing scientific literature on avian magnetoreception.
  • * Analysis of histological and electrophysiological studies investigating magnetite in birds.
  • * Integration of physiological principles to develop theoretical models.

Main Results:

  • * Magnetite (both superparamagnetic and single-domain) has been identified in association with the trigeminal nerve in birds.
  • * Electrophysiological recordings show altered neural activity in trigeminal ganglion cells in response to magnetic field changes.
  • * Histological evidence confirms the presence of superparamagnetic magnetite in the pigeon's upper beak subcutis.

Conclusions:

  • * A magnetite-based mechanism is a plausible explanation for avian magnetoreception.
  • * Further research integrating physiological data is needed to refine models of how birds sense magnetic fields.