[General Battuta]

So on the one hand this article from the wonderful Science News sounds amazing and I would love it to be true. On the other hand, I am profoundly skeptical that this experimental methodology justifies the conclusion.

Thoughts?

[NGTM-1R]

So we're still at magnetism, but now with a side of quantum entanglement.

[Flipside]

I suppose it's possible, nature doesn't always go with the easiest or most elegant solution, but I do agree that there seems to be a lot of assumption made about how sensitive the birds are to magnetic fields and how they would behave if that field was interfered with, considering we aren't actually sure how they do it.

[General Battuta]

I foresee the major consequence of this research: an explosion of 'what the bleep do we know' style quantum mysticism conflated with ecohappiness.

ugh

[Black Wolf]

I'd agree, it seems unlikely. I wonder if quantum entangled magnetic sensing might not be a tad far past what evolution can achieve - aren't there bacteria with magnetite crystals? And the wiki says birds have biological magnetitie as well - why have that if it's not used in magnetoception?

Actually, I think I'd most like to see the full paper and read their precise mechanisms before I form any definitive opinions about this, shall do that when I get back from work in a few days.

[General Battuta]

I'd agree, it seems unlikely. I wonder if quantum entangled magnetic sensing might not be a tad far past what evolution can achieve - aren't there bacteria with magnetite crystals? And the wiki says birds have biological magnetitie as well - why have that if it's not used in magnetoception?

That's been the dominant theory for years but this article at least claims to have evidence against it.

[watsisname]

Electrons in the molecule come in pairs, each with opposite spin, like the heads and tails on a coin. When light enters the bird’s eye and hits the cryptochrome, one of the electrons is kicked out. The wayward electron wobbles under the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field, but the protein-bound electron feels both the Earth’s field and the magnetic pull from the rest of the molecule. Since quantum entanglement keeps the separated electrons linked like two sides of the same coin, they feel each other wobbling. The difference in how the two electrons wobble creates patterns on the retina that the bird can use as a compass.

And the bird's retina is able to discern patterns from the wobbling of electrons in cryptochrome, how?  I just think this is far too far-fetched to be believable, but then again, lots of science sounds far-fetched at first, so *shrug*.  I'm with Blackwolf in reserving judgement until the paper comes up.

I foresee the major consequence of this research: an explosion of 'what the bleep do we know' style quantum mysticism conflated with ecohappiness.

lol quantum mechanics is Jesus and it has changed my life!

[Flipside]

Ever since photosynthesis was found to rely on Quantum effects, I think this has been a bit of an obsession in certain quarters, but Photosynthesis evolved within that structure, it doesn't use it, it simply wouldn't have happened if the effect didn't exist.