Posted by:
matthewschaefer
at Tue Aug 14 15:05:43 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by matthewschaefer ]
"The lower the frequency the more destructive it has become."
This cannot be. If E=hf, where the energy of an EM wave is equal to Planck's constant multiplied by the frequency of the wave, then a small frequency would indicate lower energy. Therefore, lower frequency means that it will be less destructive. Hence, gamma rays , which have a high frequency, are more destructive than electromagnetic radiation with lower frequencies, a radio wave. I think we have little to fear from EM radio wave radiation unless living very close to a cell tower or congruence of power lines. Perhaps organisms that live in these actual areas are leaving or unable to live there. I don't think most of us and other organisms however have much to worry about. I was a biology major, so if I am incorrect in my understanding of physics, which I had to also take for my major, someone please tell me.
"I assume that any animal that homes can possibly possess magnetite for homing as birds, turtles, insects, and mammals with great abilities to home have been studied and the common denominator has been magnetite." I was not aware of this, can you point me to some documentation? From an Ornithology course I took, which was primarily rooted in contemporary research and consulting primary literature, I spent some time exploring migration, navigation, and orientation in birds. The magnetic compass is an important for migrating birds and appeared to be a back-up compass when the sun was not visible. Birds appear to also construct navigational or homing maps based on olfactory cues, sight memory, and the sun and stars. Current research, conducted at Cornell University I believe, is investigating the presence of magnetite and its use in migratory birds. Birds flying through magnetic anomalies, where large amounts of iron are present in the Earth's surface, often fly in random directions until they emerge from the anomaly and redirect their flight path to the proper orientation. I say all that to suggest that I don't think radio waves are disturbing homing birds or migratory patterns, but I'll investigate that question. Thanks for posting an interesting topic.
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RE: New here and question for Frank - matthewschaefer, Tue Aug 14 15:05:43 2007