SAEDNEWS: Long before we knew birds could sense Earth’s magnetic field, Einstein, in a letter to fellow researchers, speculated about the possibility of animals possessing extraordinary senses.
According to the University Service of Saed News, the letter shown in the image was written by Albert Einstein on October 18, 1949, to Glyn Davys, a British radar engineer. The letter responds to Davys’ questions about the connection between physics and biology and discusses animal perception.
Reference to von Frisch’s Research: Einstein mentions Karl von Frisch’s studies on bee behavior and polarized light patterns but notes that these findings cannot be directly applied to fundamental physics.
Prediction About Migratory Birds: In another section, Einstein suggests that studying the behavior of migratory birds and carrier pigeons might one day reveal an unknown physical process.
Significance: The letter gained attention for Einstein’s foresight regarding animals’ ability to sense magnetic fields—decades before scientists confirmed this phenomenon.
Letter’s Fate: In 2011, the letter was donated by Judith Davys, widow of Glyn Davys, to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem archives, as Einstein had stipulated in his will.
