What Do Rock Pigeons and Rock Lobsters Have in Common?

Caribbean spiny lobster and Rock pigeon (photos from Wikimedia) 16 August 2026 Answer: It’s more than just the word “rock.” Pigeons are known for their ability to fly home even when dropped off in an unfamiliar location, a feat they are able to accomplish, in part, because they have an internal compass that can see Earth’s magnetic field. World Magnetic Map showing declination from true north (from NOAA World Magnetic Model products) Where is the compass inside a pigeon? A study published this spring by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior revealed that pigeons navigate using magnetic sensors in their livers. The study highlights these key points. Previously unknown navigation mechanism: Pigeons may sense the Earth’s magnetic field using iron-rich immune cells in their livers, a quantum effect. Navigation experiments: Removing iron-containing immune cells in the liver disrupted pigeons’ sense of direction under overcast skies when the sun was not visible. Sensing via the immune…