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Lobster Compasses
You've heard of homing pigeons, but how about homing lobsters? Researchers have
recently discovered that the Caribbean spiny lobster has an uncanny homing ability.
There is an apparent sensing of the earth's magnetic field, because even when the
lobster is far removed from its place of origin, it immediately heads on a bearing
that will take it home. The theory has been tested by noting that inserting magnets,
with powers similar to the earth's own, near the lobster throws off the homing ability.
If the local magnetic field is adjusted to match that of the "known" location, the
lobster will take off toward the simulated homeland. This is quite a feat for an
invertebrate, which is generally considered to be amongst the lowest of life forms
(politicians, lawyers, etc.).
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