Published Date:
17 March 2009
By Chris Benfield
Power lines stop animals obeying a natural instinct to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic north-south line, scientists are claiming.
They offer the finding as proof that radiation does interfere with animal bodies, contrary to all assurances.
The Yorkshire Post reported on its farming pages six months ago that German and Czech researchers had found cows and deer tended to align themselves north-south when grazing or resting.
The findings, collated from satellite pictures and ground-level observation, suggested large mammals were influenced by Earth's magnetic field, like birds, turtles and salmon are.
Today, the same researchers say the behaviour of cows and roe deer under high-voltage power lines, or within 50 metres either side of them, is an exception to the general rule.
They say it is physically measurable that high-voltage power lines locally change the Earth's magnetic field.
A scientist from the organisation Sense About Science said it seemed unlikely because the magnetic fields from power lines are so weak in comparison with the Earth.
The zoologists' report can be found at www.pnas.org/content/early/recent
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Last Updated:
17 March 2009 9:19 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Yorkshire
