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Ancient Magnetofossils Reveal Secrets of Early Navigation

11/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers at Cambridge University and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin discovered ancient magnetofossils in ocean sediments dating to 97 million years ago, indicating magnetoreception aided navigation in the past.
They used a new magnetic tomography technique to visualize the internal structures of these fossils, larger than typical magnetic receptors.
The animals responsible remain unknown, but migratory species such as eels could be candidates, and the study advances understanding of navigation evolution.

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Story summary

Researchers at Cambridge University and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin discovered ancient magnetofossils in ocean sediments dating to 97 million years ago, indicating magnetoreception aided navigation in the past.
They used a new magnetic tomography technique to visualize the internal structures of these fossils, larger than typical magnetic receptors.
The animals responsible remain unknown, but migratory species such as eels could be candidates, and the study advances understanding of navigation evolution.