Metals in Earth show us the way
Scientists have known for a long time that birds and insects navigate by Earth’s magnetic field.
Now, new studies indicate that the human brain is also capable of detecting electric fields.More than 3,000 km inside Earth, you will find our planet's
liquid core, which includes iron and nickel. The motion of the
metals produces a magnetic field, which protects us against
fatal particle radiation from space, and now, it seems that
the magnetic field also provides us with a compass.
According to US geobiology professor Joe Kirschvink,
humans register changes of the magnetic field – just
like some animals. Several birds navigate by Earth’s
magnetic field, and according to scientists, their
magnetic sense is located in ferrous minerals in the
birds’ beaks and proteins in their eyes.Kirschvink placed test subjects in Faraday cages - metal
boxes that protect against external electric influence. As he
rotated a magnetic field in the cage, the subjects’ alpha
brain waves oscillated markedly, indicating
that the brain is processing
impressions.1
An aluminium
Faraday cage protects
against external
electromagnetic disruption. As
the material conducts electricity,
electric fields flow around the cage.2
The inside is lined with coils,
which are laid at right angles
to each other. When
a current flows through them, a
rotatable magnetic field is produced
at the centre of the cage.3
Test subjects have
their brain waves measured via
electrodes. Scientists particularly
observed a reduction of the number of
alpha waves, when the magnetic field
rotated to the right and under.Professor Joe Kirschvink was
the first test subject to have
his brain waves measured in a
rotating magnetic field.ELECTRIC COILCLAUS LUNAUSPENCER LOWELL/TRUNK ARCHIVEBy Mikkel Meister1 MAGNETIC SENSE
By Adam Fribo