Sea Turtles Use Earth's Magnetic Field to Navigate with GPS-Like Precision

New research reveals loggerhead turtles learn and remember magnetic signatures to locate key feeding grounds over vast ocean distances.

Loggerhead sea turtles can learn and retain magnetic field signatures of specific locations, creating a mental map for navigation.
The study identified two distinct magnetic sensing systems in turtles: one for positional mapping and another for directional orientation.
Juvenile turtles demonstrated the ability to associate specific magnetic conditions with feeding locations, retaining this memory for months.
The findings suggest turtles update their magnetic maps throughout their lives, aiding adaptation to changing environments.
This research provides insights into animal navigation and could have implications for conservation and navigation technology development.