Cows as compass

Researchers in Germany and the Czech Republic have found that deer and cows have an innate magnetic sense, as they tend to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field lines when at rest. And what did they use to reach this conclusion? Google Earth of course!

Researchers examined Google Earth satellite imagery of 8,510 cattle in 308 pastures and plains around the world, as well as field data collected on nearly 3,000 deer in 225 locations in the Czech Republic. They found that when grazing or resting, deer and cows were found to face either magnetic north or south. Read more in the LA times or CBC.