Bats compass

2007/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

A study at Princeton University in New Jersey reveals that the large brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) uses the earth's magnetic field to orient itself. To reach this conclusion, a group of bats was moved 20 kilometers from their usual den. Bats were released one by one and all bats returned to the lair. They were then placed in a magnetic field other than that of the Earth. No bat managed to reach the den. Shortly after leaving this artificial magnetic field, however, they reoriented and headed towards the shelter.