Humans may possess a 'sixth sense' that detects Earth's magnetic fields.

Magnetoreception is a well-documented sense in migratory birds, sea turtles, and honeybees, but its presence in humans remained controversial for decades. In 1992, Dr. Joseph Kirschvink and his team at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) first identified the presence of magnetite crystals in human brain tissue. These microscopic particles are highly sensitive to magnetic fields and are concentrated in the ethmoid bone and the cerebellum.A breakthrough occurred in 2019 when a study published in the journal eNeuro demonstrated that the human brain actively processes magnetic information. Researchers placed 34 participants in a radio-frequency shielded chamber and manipulated the surrounding magnetic field. They observed a significant drop in alpha-wave amplitude, which is a known neural response to sensory input, specifically when the magnetic field rotated downward.This reaction only occurred when the magnetic field was oriented in a way that mimics the natural environment of the Northern Hemisphere, where the study took place. This suggests that the brain is not just reacting to a physical force but is tuned to specific environmental parameters. While we do not feel a conscious 'pull' toward the north, these findings indicate that our nervous system still retains the hardware for a biological compass.Evolutionary biologists believe this trait may be a vestigial remnant from early hominids who relied on geomagnetic cues for long-distance navigation. Current research is focused on determining whether these magnetite crystals are directly linked to sensory neurons. If confirmed, it would officially classify magnetoreception as a legitimate human sense alongside sight and hearing.