Tiny protein 'compasses' found in fruit flies - and potentially humans

Clumps of protein which align with Earth's geomagnetic field lines may feed information to the nervous system, creating the ability to navigate

Tiny biological compasses made from clumps of protein may help scores of animals, and potentially even humans, to find their way around, researchers say.

Scientists discovered the minuscule magnetic field sensors in fruit flies, but found that the same protein structures appeared in retinal cells in pigeons' eyes. They can also form in butterfly, rat, whale and human cells.