Wednesday, September 19th 2012, 9:06 AM EDT
Image Credit electricvenom.com
In the last two years there has been a die-off of fish, birds and many marine species around the world. Often, especially in the case of fish, the cause is due to water pollution near the coast, to human errors in the case of fuel leaks on boats, or simply a variety of human activities. Other times, however, the causes remain mysterious, especially in the case of whole flocks of birds fell from the skies around the world. Have been put forward various reasons, including the reversal of the magnetic poles and 'solar activity.
This last, according to research, may be the primary cause of this situation. Current scientific knowledge tells us that these animals use the Earth's magnetic field during long migrations. Solar activity near the peak of the eleven-year cycle, would have caused the rifts in our magnetosphere, the region of space surrounding a celestial body, within which the magnetic field generated by it dominates the motion of charged particles present. Our planet is protected from this sort of shield, which does not allow to solar radiation, composed of plasma clouds and charged particles, to penetrate the surface.
This is partially true, in the sense that in case of strong events, a part of the flow of radiation may violate this protective shield. In 2008, NASA has detected a massive breach in the magnetosphere, allowing solar wind to penetrate and cause huge geomagnetic storms. E 'known as some cities have remained in the dark for several hours, since these events create in the first place, damage to electrical equipment and communication systems. And 'well known that solar storms bombarding our planet with highly charged particles that can affect the pineal gland in humans.
The British Medical Journal published the results that support the thesis, which translated, means a lower sense of direction and cases of headache. Comparing, however, the pineal gland of humans to that of birds, there is a difference is not insignificant that would explain the reasons why they suffer most of these phenomena. In humans the pineal gland weighs 2 grams, and is equivalent to less than 1% of the total weight of the brain, while the pigeon weighs 1.5 grams, and is equivalent to 10% of the weight of their brain. Easy to see how the birds have a higher sensitivity and therefore more vulnerable to solar storms. Recently it was also found that the birds can see the magnetic field through these photoreceptors in their eyes, allowing them to orient themselves more during migratory flights.
According to a study reported in Science Daily, creatures such as crabs, sharks, salmon, starfish and dolphins use the magnetic field for a second purpose in addition to migration, that is, to locate prey. According to the magazine National Academy of Sciences, it was discovered that the small cells rich in iron called magnetite, embedded in the nasal passages of the rainbow trout, are a hundred times more powerful than previously thought, allowing them to use a sort of compass to 'internal sensory system.
The recent death of more than 40,000 crabs, starfish, lobsters, and sea anemones in England, highlights the biological effects of a disturbed magnetosphere. Taken for granted, such as science teaches, that the migratory creatures from around the world rely on the magnetosphere to navigate, it is easy to see how the great sensitivity of these animals is decidedly against them in the event of major solar storms. As we approach the maximum of the solar cycle of Schwabe, go up the opportunity to study the effects that changes in the magnetosphere can have on our biology and that of other creatures that inhabit our planet.
views 1,987
1%
13%
86%
Tweet Article
Post to Facebook
Print Article