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Health & Science8h 8m ago
Researchers found that immune cells called macrophages in the livers of homing pigeons contain large amounts of iron stored in a protein called ferritin.
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Who
Researchers, 34 homing pigeons
What
Researchers found that immune cells called macrophages in the livers of homing pigeons contain large amounts of iron stored in a protein called ferritin.
When
Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:30:12 GMT · 8h 8m ago
Where
unspecified ·
Why
These cells may help detect magnetic information and pass it on to the brain, especially when the Sun is hidden by clouds.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
The discovery sheds new light on how animals navigate using Earth's magnetic field, potentially extending to other species like bees, bats, whales, and sharks, and offering a deeper understanding of natural navigation mechanisms.
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2 events in this thread- Currently Reading8h 8m agoResearchers found that immune cells called macrophages in the livers of homing pigeons contain large amounts of iron stored in a protein called ferritin.
- Health & Science8h 8m agoHoming pigeons may rely on an unexpected navigation tool hidden in their liver, as iron-rich immune cells appear to help the birds sense Earth's magnetic field, especially when the Sun is hidden by clouds.Open article