Monarch Butterflies Migrate 4,800 Kilometers Using a Built-In Magnetic Compass
Migrating from North America to Mexico, monarch butterflies sense Earth's magnetic field to stay on course even on overcast days.
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Interactive Scenemonarch butterfly migration
🌿 Nature Wonder
Nature Communications
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Roughly how many kilometers is the monarch butterfly migration from North America to Mexico?
Your guess:0 km
Key Insight
Cryptochrome proteins in their antennae sense the inclination angle of Earth's magnetic field.
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🌿 Nature
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Why / How?
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Scientific Mechanism
Research shows that light-sensitive cryptochrome proteins in their antennae detect Earth's magnetic inclination angle, guiding them to overwintering forests they have never visited before.
02
Why It Matters
Cryptochrome proteins in their antennae sense the inclination angle of Earth's magnetic field.
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Nature Communications