Did You Know ?

[Canary42]

While reading the Wiki entry for dogs (don't ask) I came across this unusual/interesting statement.

One study suggests that dogs can feel small variations in Earth's magnetic field. Dogs prefer to defecate with their spines aligned in a north-south position in calm magnetic field conditions.

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Canary42.

So the next time that I'm lost somewhere, I can simply find a dog (in need of a poo, obviously) to act as a compass!

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/jan/08/dogs-defecate-earths-magnetic-field-research-finds

[ToraToraTora]

Pawlease!

[10ClarionSt]

I hadn't heard about the first part, but had heard about the second, the north south thingy.

[Peter Pedant]

same phys as birds being able to orientate ( is there a verb for 'take up a position according to the magnetic field'?)

Brain takes up / makes liddle liddle grains ( psammoma bodies) which can take up Iron and so be compasses

it seems dogs can 

and humans - accounts for some people being unable to have MRI scans.

In the Sabi Desert ( Zim) some insect only makes a nest on one oriented side of a tree - useful if lost

[Peter Pedant]

oh, wiki says psammoma bodies are pathological

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psammoma_body