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Health & Science4h 41m 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.

unspecified

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 · 4h 41m 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.

Story chain

2 events in this thread
  1. Currently Reading4h 41m 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.
  2. Health & Science4h 41m ago
    Homing 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

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