Annu Rev Biophys July 2016 PMID 27216936

The Radical-Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception.

P J Hore, Henrik Mouritsen

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132

Peak: 28 in Jan 2023

across 4 sources since Mar 2020

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What people are saying

The group shows strong interest through comments like 'Interesting!' and sharing of educational videos explaining how radical pairs and quantum entanglement might enable migratory birds to sense Earth's magnetic field, reflecting high engagement. Words such as 'phenomenal,' 'explaining,' and references to scientific papers suggest a deep curiosity and recognition of the potential significance of this quantum biological mechanism, though it remains in early stages of understanding.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the research's significance, with many expressing fascination with the quantum mechanisms birds might use for navigation.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions demonstrate high curiosity, with several examples highlighting curiosity about quantum effects in biology and the potential for migration explanations.

EngagementHigh engagement

Users actively participate by sharing videos, explaining concepts, referencing scientific papers, and discussing quantum mechanics' role, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While there is enthusiasm about the scientific implications, the overall impact remains somewhat speculative and theoretical, limiting the immediate practical influence.

Abstract in brief

The Radical Pair Mechanism suggests that migratory birds sense Earth's magnetic field through chemical signals called radical pairs, which are formed in cryp chrome proteins in the retina when they are exposed to light.
The mechanism relies on the idea that these radical pairs are sensitive to magnetic fields, which can influence their chemical reactions and enable birds to detect magnetic direction.
The goal of the text is to explain both the chemical-physical aspects of this process to physicists and the biological aspects to biologists, encouraging collaborative research to better understand how animals perceive Earth's magnetic field.]

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All mentions

Quantum Mechanics in Bird Navigation and Magnetoreception

This video explores how migratory birds may use quantum physics, particularly the radical-pair mechanism, to detect Earth's magnetic field, facilitating navigation through chemical signals in their retinas.

Up and Atom · Mar 13, 2020 161,237 views

Birds Use Quantum Entanglement for Navigation During Migration

This video explores how the European Robin uses quantum entanglement to navigate thousands of kilometers during migration, focusing on radical-pair chemical signals in the retina influenced by Earth's magnetic field.

Pepite di Scienza · Nov 19, 2023 135,689 views

Scientific Quiz on Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, and Astrophysics

This video features a 7-question science quiz covering astrophysics, relativity, and quantum mechanics, with answers and explanations. Learn key concepts like time dilation, light speed, wave-particle duality, quantum…

Pepite di Scienza · Dec 24, 2023 45,959 views

Weak Magnetic Fields Influence Stem Cell Growth and Differentiation

Biological systems interact with electromagnetic fields, affecting chemical reactions and free radicals. Research shows weak magnetic fields can alter stem cell growth through changes in reactive oxygen species and heat…

Спорим, вы не знали? · Nov 2, 2023 29,984 views

Radical-Pair Mechanism Explains Magnetoreception in Birds

The Radical-Pair Mechanism suggests that migratory birds sense Earth's magnetic field through chemical signals called radical pairs, influenced by light exposure in cryptochrome proteins in the retina, enabling magnetic…

العلم بالملعقة · Sep 1, 2025 19,107 views

Quantum Biology: How Quantum Mechanics Influence Biological Processes

This video explores how quantum mechanics impacts biological phenomena, including avian magnetoreception, photosynthesis, and sense of smell, highlighting recent discoveries in quantum biology and its interdisciplinary…

La Dimoni de Maxwell · Jan 9, 2023 1,392 views

Bird Magnetic Sensing and Quantum Biology Insights

This video explores how migratory birds sense Earth's magnetic field through the radical pair mechanism in cryptochrome proteins, highlighting the intersection of chemical reactions sensitive to magnetic fields and…

Bhysics 101 · Sep 26, 2021 192 views

SLEEP

@Plato131 · X

Gud introductory vids bridging physics and biology imo https://t.co/w1bn0SvGYD https://t.co/cK994dnkCx

Apr 1, 2025 · 45 followers View post →

Anna Rose

@AnnaRos08633104 · X

https://t.co/sdQZBDCjtm

Mar 5, 2024 · 30 followers View post →

Mariona mec

@marionamec · X

En el vídeo anterior d'aquesta serie vaig parlar de com migra el Pit Roig Europeu

Feb 25, 2024 · 2 likes · 1,044 followers View post →

Claudio Vascotto

@ClaudioVascott4 · X

https://t.co/hOvECKpfyX

Dec 24, 2023 · 529 followers View post →

Isabel

@Isabel57542420 · X

https://t.co/lZszAMd80q

Nov 20, 2023 · 814 followers View post →

Armando4391

@Armando4391 · X

I pettirossi usano l'entaglement per orientarsi https://t.co/lnA2z098Qw

Nov 19, 2023 · 519 followers View post →

Claudio Vascotto

@ClaudioVascott4 · X

https://t.co/yV6botJi45

Nov 19, 2023 · 529 followers View post →

Drmikemyers

@drmikemyers · X

Interesting! Found on YouTube: Il pettirosso usa l’entanglement per orientarsi https://t.co/CXba0P4oE5

Nov 19, 2023 · 496 followers View post →

Imputat-2680S

@pepsabater · X

RT @marionamec:

Aug 12, 2023 · 26 shares · 1,077 followers View post →

(((Corto Maltese))) ||☆||

@helixx85 · X

RT @marionamec:

Aug 12, 2023 · 26 shares · 40,680 followers View post →

Jenks Guo

@JenksGuo · X

https://t.co/leCJS3K4nY @klausbrave (Tippi Fivestars asked me to send you this)

Aug 8, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,616 followers View post →

Srijon Sarkar

@srijonrick · X

One of the finest explanations as well as animations https://t.co/dkOYzCrj8t

Aug 2, 2023 · 2 likes · 132 followers View post →

Stefan Franczuk

@stefanfranczuk · X

Interesting

Jun 1, 2023 · 3,433 followers View post →

Teresa C

@3ad1lesa · X

RT @marionamec: Holaaa que taaal? Aquí teniu un vídeo meu explicant això en català ☺️

May 2, 2023 · 2 shares · 560 followers View post →

Xavi Marsellach

@xavi_marsellach · X

RT @marionamec: Holaaa que taaal? Aquí teniu un vídeo meu explicant això en català ☺️

May 2, 2023 · 2 shares · 280 followers View post →

Mariona mec

@marionamec · X

Holaaa que taaal? Aquí teniu un vídeo meu explicant això en català ☺️

May 2, 2023 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 1,044 followers View post →

Patrick Blessinger

@DrBlessinger · X

https://t.co/qxvbpS3WWY https://t.co/CfVf216CjK

Apr 12, 2023 · 1,868 followers View post →

Jordi Mon Companys

@MordodeMaru · X

Biologia Quàntica: L'ocell quàntic https://t.co/bCSoA01BUD por @marionamec

Feb 2, 2023 · 1 like · 679 followers View post →

Marc Artiga

@mrcartiga · X

RT @marionamec:

Jan 18, 2023 · 26 shares · 792 followers View post →

Pepe Sabater

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Jan 12, 2023 · 26 shares · 398 followers View post →

Elm Costa i Bricha

@ElmCosta · X

RT @GustauCatalan: Enllaçament quàntic a temperatura ambient i visible amb ulls d'aucell? Els ropits ja m'encantaven, però ara els admiro.…

Jan 11, 2023 · 1 share · 40 followers View post →

alfons tormo piròsof

@unpobrebomber · X

RT @marionamec:

Jan 11, 2023 · 26 shares · 1,938 followers View post →

Joan Laso

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 570 followers View post →

Frodosito

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 37 followers View post →

Eden

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 117 followers View post →

Carles

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 389 followers View post →

Xavier Duran

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 3,039 followers View post →

Ricard Alert Zenón

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Pasqual Bernat

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GLORIA S. S.

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Repedra

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Griselda Perea

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Jan 10, 2023 · 26 shares · 245 followers View post →

Chesterton Català ن

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 2,741 followers View post →

C. Hervada

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 60 followers View post →

Oriol Franco

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 93 followers View post →

Xavier Lasauca Cisa

@xavierlasauca · X

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 4,886 followers View post →

Gustau Catalan

@GustauCatalan · X

Enllaçament quàntic a temperatura ambient i visible amb ulls d'aucell? Els ropits ja m'encantaven, però ara els admiro. (Gràcies per l'excel·lent lliçó, @marionamec @neurofregides ) https://t.co/EiLuOc50zO

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 632 followers View post →

Roig de Metil

@MetilRoig · X

RT @marionamec:

Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 80 followers View post →

On(tech)fire

@Martonaona · X

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 926 followers View post →

JoanRa

@JoanRaPLl · X

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 207 followers View post →

Santi Galan

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 314 followers View post →

Neurones Fregides

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Jan 9, 2023 · 26 shares · 25,122 followers View post →

Mariona mec

@marionamec · X

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,044 followers View post →

Mariona mec

@marionamec · X

Jan 9, 2023 · 46 likes · 26 shares · 1,044 followers View post →

Drsyedakiranbukhari

@DRSYEDABUKHARI1 · X

https://t.co/lzwrHQQ4RT

Nov 1, 2022 · 1 like · 456 followers View post →

Ted Pavlic (he/him/his)

@TedPavlic · X

@theosysbio What about radical pair formation in magnetoreception? (compass sensing in birds, for example) https://t.co/IV50M6D8gr

Jul 6, 2022 · 5 likes · 2,676 followers View post →

Marcedric A Kirby

@MarcedricKirby1 · X

https://t.co/pvDmWKNxza

Mar 26, 2022 · 69 followers View post →

Quantum Biology Doctoral Training Centre

@QB_DTC · X

Nov 4, 2021 · 4 likes · 1,487 followers View post →

ferzal

@ferzalAU · X

@upndatom Ran into you for the first time in my QB Youtube "auto rabbithole". https://t.co/3voC02cdia It's only from last year so I had some criticisms and additions you may now know.. or not. I added them in the appropriate place on YT. Necro'd the comments. Loved it though.

Oct 7, 2021 · 2 followers View post →

金王坂兵衛

@KNZ48 · X

鳥の航法編ある種の鳥は夜間に地磁気を「見て」いる可能性。色素クリプトクロムから脳のＮ領域まで個別段階の仮説は揃っている。通しの実証はまだ。 Quantum Biology [Part 3] - How Birds (Might) Navigate With Quantum Mechanics https://t.co/iNYXAivOkL

Aug 14, 2021 · 1 like · 3,120 followers View post →

Ethan O'Connor

@ethanoconnor · X

@j_bertolotti @BWJones The mechanism is discussed in Hore, P. J. & Mouritsen, H. The radical-pair mechanism of magnetoreception. Annu. Rev. Biophys. 45, 299–344 (2016) and is firmly in the realm of spin chemistry. The reaction dynamics are driven by the Pauli exclusion principle, so quantum seems fair?

Jun 24, 2021 · 1 like · 135 followers View post →

Jorge Ramírez-Ruiz

@joramirezruiz · X

As a physicist, neuroscientist-in-training and bird watcher, the problem of how birds use the earth's magnetic field to navigate sits beautifully at the intersection of my life's Venn diagram and Up and Atom made this awesome video about it https://t.co/JH0qQttlxQ

Mar 21, 2021 · 1 like · 217 followers View post →

Balaji Ravikanti

@baluravikanti · X

Effects of natural phenomena in living organisms. Don't a lot of info in Vedic scripts give specific advices to people for some seasons/festivals that are timed based on earth's relative cosmological arrangement! Crude correlation yet, worth exploring! https://t.co/V9zLFrSFrN

Aug 27, 2020 · 92 followers View post →

Mark W Kaelin

@MarkWKaelin · X

Quantum Biology [Part 3] - How Birds (Might) Navigate With Quantum Mecha... https://t.co/UkBrrR16Wb via @YouTube

Aug 17, 2020 · 1,207 followers View post →

Biólogo Andy

@BiologAndy · X

https://t.co/fPmkh1IBBo

Aug 2, 2020 · 10,675 followers View post →

Rod

@rodbastos · X

Acho que nunca me achei tão inteligente quanto no momento que entendi esse vídeo e no final ela fala 'se tu não entendeu quase nada, tudo bem. isso está num nível de PhD. é difícil' na moral, ganhei meu dia com essa nerdice máxima hauahuhauah https://t.co/aCcaEjy6aY

Jul 4, 2020 · 751 followers View post →

Sam Whitby

@SamWhitby4 · X

@EmporiumThought Thanks - I wasn't actually thinking of MagR (metalloprotein), but cryptochrome, which is a radical pair mechanism (no metal). It extremely interesting, if true, effectively a quantum effect. Great video yesterday by the way. https://t.co/UqtppNnR7d

Jun 17, 2020 · 5 followers View post →

Spencer Lol

@Spencillian · X

@nealkhosla @gamercop69 @david_perell https://t.co/u2sLnWdRQX People are currently looking at quantum physics to see if it effects the pigeons abilities to find home.

Apr 22, 2020 View post →

La_Maudite

@La_Maudite · X

RT @phodyssey: https://t.co/lAvdBeLWhx

Mar 19, 2020 · 1 share · 83 followers View post →

Phodysssey

@phodyssey · X

https://t.co/lAvdBeLWhx

Mar 19, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 43 followers View post →

NoirTalon

@NoirTalon · X

We still don't quite know how birds sense the earth's magnetic field, but we have a good theory. Ever wonder how quantum mechanics impacts life at our scale? One of the best explanations of both these topics ever: #science #nature #birds https://t.co/LIgnVahMUo via @YouTube

Mar 15, 2020 · 1 like · 272 followers View post →

trisolange

@vctimwa · X

https://t.co/tK1iIuUbvY

Mar 13, 2020 · 129 followers View post →

Gohsuke Takama

@gohsuket · X

( `･ω･) ｳｰﾑ… "Quantum Biology - How Birds (Might) Navigate With Quantum Mechanics" on YouTube - https://t.co/svIx97r2sj

Mar 13, 2020 · 1 like · 2,993 followers View post →

BlackPhysicists

@BlackPhysicists · X

[ASAP] Electron–Electron Dipolar Interaction Poses a Challenge to the Radical Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception https://t.co/vc2QNWWk02 #chemicalphysics https://t.co/CFKIxkAGf2

Mar 12, 2020 · 25,141 followers View post →

The Radical-Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Quantum Mechanics in Bird Navigation and Magnetoreception

Birds Use Quantum Entanglement for Navigation During Migration

Scientific Quiz on Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, and Astrophysics

Weak Magnetic Fields Influence Stem Cell Growth and Differentiation

Radical-Pair Mechanism Explains Magnetoreception in Birds

Quantum Biology: How Quantum Mechanics Influence Biological Processes

Bird Magnetic Sensing and Quantum Biology Insights