Simon Benjamin's

How precisely do birds navigate over long distances without getting lost? In a Biophysical Journal article, we suggest that certain migratory birds might literally ‘see’ Earth’s magnetic field superimposed on their normal vision, reminiscent of a fighter pilot’s heads up display. Our proposal builds on the established Radical Pair model of the avian compass, replacing the hypothetical chemical signal transduction stage, for which no evidence exists, with a physical mechanism, by which an electrical dipole Read more…

Can objects be in two places at the same time? Even if we take the best theory of atomic physics for granted – quantum mechanics – the idea is difficult to reconcile with our experiences of everyday life. Is there a reason why macroscopic objects (such as cats, or the moon) cannot also be placed into superpositions: To exist in paradoxical quantum states? A rigorous experimental method to decide the question has been proposed by Read more…