Chemical compass behaviour at microtesla magnetic fields strengthens the radical pair hypothesis of avian magnetoreception

Christian Kerpal; Sabine Richert; Jonathan G. Storey; Smitha Pillai; Paul A. Liddell; Devens Gust; Stuart R. Mackenzie; P. J. Hore; Christiane R. Timmel

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11655-2

Nature Communications (Aug 2019)

Chemical compass behaviour at microtesla magnetic fields strengthens the radical pair hypothesis of avian magnetoreception

Christian Kerpal,
Sabine Richert,
Jonathan G. Storey,
Smitha Pillai,
Paul A. Liddell,
Devens Gust,
Stuart R. Mackenzie,
P. J. Hore,
Christiane R. Timmel

Affiliations

Christian Kerpal: Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CÆSR), Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Sabine Richert: Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CÆSR), Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Jonathan G. Storey: Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CÆSR), Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Smitha Pillai: School of Molecular Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University
Paul A. Liddell: School of Molecular Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University
Devens Gust: School of Molecular Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University
Stuart R. Mackenzie: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
P. J. Hore: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Christiane R. Timmel: Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CÆSR), Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11655-2
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Many animals use the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation, yet the underlying principles are poorly understood. The authors show that a molecular triad acts as a chemical compass in magnetic fields of similar magnitude to that of the Earth, supporting the hypothesis that photo-initiated quantum processes underlie bird magnetoreception.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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