Most of us know at least one way to tell direction. Whether it’s tracking the sun’s position in the sky, locating the North Star at night, or maybe even noting what side of the tree moss is growing on. Maybe you still know how to use a compass. With the advent of GPS systems and apps, it seems like people are less and less able to tell where they’re going without the aid of technology. But what if your phone were dead and you were left without a compass? What if it’s too cloudy to see the sun or stars and there are no trees around? Could you tell which way you were heading? According to some scientists, you certainly could. New research suggests that human beings have the ability to detect magnetic fields given off by the earth and other sources. Have you ever wondered how birds arrive at their winter destinations thousands of miles away from where they started? Have you ever noticed that dogs always orient themselves north-to-south when going to the bathroom? The reason has to do with the earth’s polarity. The north and south poles emit a magnetic force field and many animals can sense this, including humans. Research done by Joe Kirschvink at the California Institute of Technology suggests that human beings possess the same ability as other animals such as birds and dogs. This ability allows us to detect the earth’s magnetic forces. These magnetic forces help orient some animals with their surroundings and help them navigate their environments. The earth’s magnetic poles are also responsible for creating the aurora borealis, or northern lights. The idea that human beings are capable of sensing magnetic forces has long been debated. However, as Kirschvink and his team discovered, there is certainly promising research to support the idea. While manipulating magnetic forces around isolated test subjects, Kirschvink studied the change in brain activity, noting direct links to brain wave patterns and different levels of magnetic force. It is not yet known why human beings have this sensitivity to magnetic forces, whether caused by the earth’s poles or other sources. Perhaps our ancient ancestors used this sense to navigate their way through the treacherous landscapes of the ice age. What do you think?