Animals of many kinds can orient themselves with respect to the Earth's magnetic field. Magnetic orientation seems to be through the eye, possibly by the magnetic modulation of a photochemical reaction. The problem is that nobody knows whether such modulation is even possible, for any chemical system, as that the Earth's magnetic field is relatively weak. This paper presents evidence that weak magnetic fields can modulate photochemical reactions in the expected manner. The model system is entirely artificial, and the temperature rather low, but the point has been made.
- Kiminori Maeda
- Kevin B. Henbest
- P. J. Hore
