HOW BIRDS NAVIGATE

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A protein in the eyes of birds is what gives them their internal compass and allows them to navigate using the Earth's Magnetic field. Birds can sense Earth's Magnetic field, which allows them to navigate and embark on migrations that span tens of thousands of kilometres. Researchers thought iron-rich cells in bird's beaks acts as microscopic compasses but new studies have found increasing evidence that certain proteins in birds eyes might be what allows them to see magnetic fields. The new studies examined *38 zebra finches and European robins*, both single out a protein called *Cry4 (cryptochromes)*, a light-sensitive protein found in the retina. The team found that while levels of Cry1 and Cry2 rose and fell over the day Cry4 levels remained constant, indicating the protein was being produced steadily. This is the first time that such a molecular has been identified in birds. A specific molecular that is responsible for the detection of magnetic fields. Cry4 is a protein responsible for biological sleep cycles but also thought to react to Earth's Magnetic field thanks to quantum mechanics. The protein's quantum interactions could help birds sense this field. Previous studies have suggested that birds use quantum theory to literally see earth's magnetic field as they fly through the sky. Different reactions are produced in the eyes of all avian creatures, depending on which way earth's magnetic field is spinning. These reactions could create a picture of tge field in different shades across the bird's eye such an image would not be a clear outline of a shape but just shades of dark and light depending on how the field moves. When a light photon enters the bird's eye, it comes into contact with the cryptochrome and is given an energy boost, which puts it into quantum enlargement. A state where the electrons are spatially separated but still able to interact with and effect one another in humans, photoreceptive cones consist of three types each cone is red, green or blue light (called trichromatic color vision). Birds have an extra cone for tetrachromatic color vision. This extra cone expands the visible light spectrum and allows birds to see ultraviolet frequencies.

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