> Though they could hardly believe it themselves, the scientists <br />> had their answer. Low-level, broadband electromagnetic noise?the <br />> kind that urban areas are now awash in?can disable a critical <br />> tool migratory songbirds use in finding their way between <br />> seasonal destinations. <br />> This finding that urban areas can handicap navigation may help <br />> explain the disturbing decline in migratory songbird populations <br />> <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/songbird-migration/franzen-text> <br />Mouritsen says. <br />> It also provides the first ever, scientifically sound evidence of <br />> weak, anthropogenic electromagnetic fields affecting a biological <br />> process. <br />> What devices are contributing to the noise? Given the measured <br />> frequencies, Mouritsen can say that these are not from cell <br />> phones or power lines?but other than that, he can't specify. The <br />> possible sources are almost endless: The Oldenburg campus alone <br />> houses everything from toaster ovens to scanning electron <br />> microscopes. <br />> Because of this finding, it might eventually be possible to phase <br />> out use of those frequencies found to disturb birds' navigation. <br />> It pleases Mouritsen that his team made this contribution to <br />> avian science. <br />> As to the implications for human health: "Not my area of <br />> interest," Mouritsen declares flatly. "We stumbled upon these <br />> effects by chance. I won't pursue this finding?though others <br />> may." <br />> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.htmi <br />> Anthropogenic electromagnetic noise disrupts magnetic compass <br />> orientation in a migratory bird <br />> *Svenja Engels <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.html#auth-l> <br />*Nils-Lasse Schneider <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/nature13290.html#auth-2> <br />*Nele Lefeldt <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/nature13290.html#auth-3> <br />*Christine Maira Hein <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.html#auth-4> <br />*Manuela Zapka <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.html#auth-5> <br />*Andreas Michalik <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.html#auth-6> <br />*Dana Elbers <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/naturel3290.html#auth-7> <br />*Achim Kittel <br />> <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7500/full/nature13290.html#auth-8> <br />