Certain neurons in the brains of pigeons encode the direction and intensity of the Earth’s magnetic field, giving the birds an inborn internal global positioning system, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science.

An international team of scientists has demonstrated a revolutionary new way of magnetic recording which will allow information to be processed hundreds of times faster than by current hard drive technology.

The Materials Chemistry and Physics Sciences are two of the key sections in the Chemistry Sciences category of the Sciences Social Network Sciencia.org.

The December GSA TODAY science article, "Unique geologic insights from “non-unique” gravity and magnetic interpretation,” is now online at www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/.

Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. In other words, if you were alive about 800,000 years ago, and facing what we call north with a magnetic compass in your hand, the needle would point to 'south.'