Innate sense of magnetic direction

[WhiteKnight]

It is well known that birds and some other animals are able to navigate by following magnetic fields. Much of this ability stems from little magnet-bearing bacteria that reside in the animal. I know that some humans have better sense of direction than others, and I am wondering if it is also due to these little magnetic bacteria.

I ask because I really have an uncanny sense of magnetic direction. I can be put in a situation where I have absolutely no idea which direction I came from and where I am isolated from judging by the sun, moss on trees, or any other typical navigation aid, yet still be able to determine magnetic north, almost always to within 3 or 4 degrees. Maybe it's my mutant superpower. I'm NAVIGATION MAN!!!

Edit: fixed a typo

 

[iwearnosox]

You're uberdork.?

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
It is well known that birds and some other animals are able to navigate by following magnetic fields. Much of this ability stems from little magnet-bearing bacteria that reside in the animal. I know that some humans have better sense of direction than others, and I am wondering if it is also due to these little magnetic bacteria.

I ask because I really have an uncanny sense of magnetic direction. I can be put in a sitation where I have absolutely no idea which direction I came from and where I am isolated from judging by the sun, moss on trees, or any other typical navigation aid, yet still be able to determine magnetic north, almost always to within 3 or 4 degrees. Maybe it's my mutant superpower. I'm NAVIGATION MAN!!!

I'm jealous... can I install you in my car as opposed to having a GPS?

 

[dighn]

for real?

 

[TheNinja]

I must be missing these little bacteria then b/c I'm HORRIBLE with direction. And stay away from me your mutant freak!!

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Dezign

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
It is well known that birds and some other animals are able to navigate by following magnetic fields. Much of this ability stems from little magnet-bearing bacteria that reside in the animal. I know that some humans have better sense of direction than others, and I am wondering if it is also due to these little magnetic bacteria.

I ask because I really have an uncanny sense of magnetic direction. I can be put in a sitation where I have absolutely no idea which direction I came from and where I am isolated from judging by the sun, moss on trees, or any other typical navigation aid, yet still be able to determine magnetic north, almost always to within 3 or 4 degrees. Maybe it's my mutant superpower. I'm NAVIGATION MAN!!!

I'm jealous... can I install you in my car as opposed to having a GPS?

GPS's don't fart or try to peek up your skirt.

 

[Rage187]

I can do that w/ the time of the day.

Know the time w/in a couple minutes of actually time, sometimes dead on.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Yeah, it's actually gotten harder as I've gotten older. When I was a kid, my dad used to ask me which way was north while we were out at a store or camping or something and he says that I could always get it. Since going through Boy Scouts and ROTC and just gaining life experience, it's become harder for me to ignore all the other direction finding signs that I have been taught. However, last weekend I was down in Houston visiting my Aunt and Uncle and while I was brushing my teeth I decided to give it a try. I had never been to their house before and it was night. I'd also slept in the car on the ride from the airport so I didn't know where I came from. I had to just kinda stand there for a minute or two, but I took a guess and the next morning I asked my uncle which way north was. He pulled out a compass and sure enough, I was right in the money.

 

[Bootprint]

He's just trying to sneak into Canada, and that's his excuse he tells the border guards when they catch him out in the forest just over the 49th.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I have to use the sun.

 

[BatmanNate]

I read a report on this once to the effect that men typically have a better idea of where North lies because of thier iron content, particularly in the nose. I have no idea how much merit there was to it but the idea is amusing.

 

[WhiteKnight]

So am I the only freak around here or are there other people that can do this?

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Yeah, it's actually gotten harder as I've gotten older. When I was a kid, my dad used to ask me which way was north while we were out at a store or camping or something and he says that I could always get it. Since going through Boy Scouts and ROTC and just gaining life experience, it's become harder for me to ignore all the other direction finding signs that I have been taught. However, last weekend I was down in Houston visiting my Aunt and Uncle and while I was brushing my teeth I decided to give it a try. I had never been to their house before and it was night. I'd also slept in the car on the ride from the airport so I didn't know where I came from. I had to just kinda stand there for a minute or two, but I took a guess and the next morning I asked my uncle which way north was. He pulled out a compass and sure enough, I was right in the money.

a minute or two? u are a slow compass.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
So am I the only freak around here or are there other people that can do this?

Nope, I can almost always tell North as well.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by: Rufio

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Yeah, it's actually gotten harder as I've gotten older. When I was a kid, my dad used to ask me which way was north while we were out at a store or camping or something and he says that I could always get it. Since going through Boy Scouts and ROTC and just gaining life experience, it's become harder for me to ignore all the other direction finding signs that I have been taught. However, last weekend I was down in Houston visiting my Aunt and Uncle and while I was brushing my teeth I decided to give it a try. I had never been to their house before and it was night. I'd also slept in the car on the ride from the airport so I didn't know where I came from. I had to just kinda stand there for a minute or two, but I took a guess and the next morning I asked my uncle which way north was. He pulled out a compass and sure enough, I was right in the money.

a minute or two? u are a slow compass.

Well, I always know my way around, but yeah, it takes me longer sometimes to actually pinpoint north. It's a matter of clearing my mind I think. I was also brushing my teeth at the same time.

 

[Baronz]

too bad magnetic north is 14 degrees away from true north

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
I read a report on this once to the effect that men typically have a better idea of where North lies because of thier iron content, particularly in the nose. I have no idea how much merit there was to it but the idea is amusing.

Yep, this is what I have read too.

 

[kranky]

I have a good sense of direction but I couldn't possibly figure out what direction is north without any clues. For those of you who can, how do you do it? Do you have some actual sensation when facing north, or is it just a "feeling"?

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: kranky
I have a good sense of direction but I couldn't possibly figure out what direction is north without any clues. For those of you who can, how do you do it? Do you have some actual sensation when facing north, or is it just a "feeling"?

Almost an intuition, like when you're walking through your house in the dark and you know where stuff is. No physical sensation really.

 

[Palek]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Maybe it's my mutant superpower. I'm NAVIGATION MAN!!!

You should be "Magnettino", the not-so powerful long-lost twin brother of Magneto. He can pick up cars and stop bullets, while you can *GASP* pick the right direction!!!

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Palek

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Maybe it's my mutant superpower. I'm NAVIGATION MAN!!!

Your name should be "Magnettino", the not-so powerful long-lost twin brother of Magneto.

Wouldn't that just make his perpetually attracted to his brother?

 

[edro]

Why would you know which direction is North? Why don't you point to Magnetic South? North is just a label isn't it? It's not really the north most direction... it's off by like 25 degrees or something...

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: edro13
Why would you know which direction is North? Why don't you point to Magnetic South? North is just a label isn't it? It's not really the north most direction... it's off by like 25 degrees or something...

i think they are just "trained" to go for north since that's used to indicate the direction here.

 

[glugglug]

I can do this, but not nearly as well as you describe.

 

[Alchemist99]

I have a friend who can do this with almost superhuman ability so I really never pay attention when we're going somewhere together and then he gets mad when i don't know where the hell we're at. So basically i hate people like you