Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Helmholtz Center in Berlin have found convincing evidence that ancient marine creatures used magnetolocation around 97 million years ago. Documentation about this published in Nature magazine.
During the research, scientists analyzed megafossils – fossilized magnetite particles up to 2.25 micrometers in size, found in marine sediments. As a result, it was possible to demonstrate for the first time that these structures are adapted to perceive the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.
The fossils were examined using an innovative technique based on magnetic tomography. This makes it possible to study their internal structure in detail.
Scientists are said to have found magnetic fields inside fossils, indicating the animals' ability to geolocate. But it is still unknown which species created them. The document says they may be migratory animals that live in the oceans, such as eels.
The discovery sheds light on the evolution of magnetic navigation in animals, showing how complex navigation systems similar to modern GPS evolved from primitive forms of bacteria.
