Homing pigeons may rely on an unexpected navigation tool hidden in their liver, according to a new study. Researchers found that iron-rich immune cells appear to help the birds sense Earth's magnetic field, especially when the Sun is hidden by clouds. The new study points to a surprising alternative. Researchers found that immune cells called macrophages in the livers of homing pigeons contain large amounts of iron stored in a protein called ferritin. These cells were located close to nerve cells,... [1578 chars]
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