Scientists Discover 97-Million-Year-Old “GPS” That May Have Guided Ancient Animals

Scientists Discover 97-Million-Year-Old “GPS” That May Have Guided Ancient Animals

Ancient magnetic fossils reveal that animal navigation using Earth’s magnetic field may have evolved far earlier than previously known. Researchers have uncovered what appears to be the oldest known evidence of an internal navigation system in an animal, a finding that may help explain how modern birds and fish developed the ability to orient themselves [...]

Ancient 'animal GPS system' identified in magnetic fossils

Cambridge UK (SPX) Nov 19, 2025 The earliest evidence of an internal 'GPS' system in an animal has been identified by researchers, which could help explain how modern birds and fish evolved the ability to use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate long distances. The tiny magnetic fossils - dating from 97 million years ago - were buried in ancient seafloor sediments, left behind by a mysterious, unidentified organism.