The Mystery of Sharks' Orientation

Sharks have been inhabiting Earth's oceans for almost 450 million years, but their navigational abilities are still a subject of substantial scientific interest.

A captivating study published in 'Current Biology' reveals that sharks, like migratory birds, use the Earth's magnetic fields as a sort of natural GPS to navigate long distances.

Researchers captured 20 bonnethead sharks and exposed them to magnetic conditions that mirrored locations hundreds of kilometers away from their capture site.

Astonishingly, in response to the northern magnetic field, sharks swam south, and vice versa.

This critical understanding of sharks' geomagnetic sense highlights how they determine their global position and orient towards their desired destination, revealing an unseen yet intricate side of shark behavior and cognition.

It also insights into the challenges that alterations in Earth's magnetic field may pose to these magnificent marine creatures..