News Animals

Young eels use magnetic ‘sixth sense’ to navigate

Ability explains how fish find ocean currents that sweep them to Europe’s rivers

juvenile European eel

EEL GPS  Juvenile European eels may use Earth’s magnetic field to help them cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach freshwater rivers in Europe, including these seen in the U.K.’s Bristol Channel.

Nick Upton/Alamy

By Laurel Hamers

- More than 2 years ago

Earth’s magnetic field helps eels go with the flow.