Professor Christiane Timmel from the University of Oxford’s Department of Chemistry is leading a new project funded by a £6 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to investigate how animals sense Earth’s magnetic field. This ambitious undertaking, titled ‘Quantum sensing in nature and synthetic biology,’ will involve a cross-disciplinary team from the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh, and St Andrews, focusing on the light-dependent animal magnetosense. The project aims to elucidate the fundamental principles governing this biological process and explore potential applications for engineering novel technologies in biomedicine.
Animal Magnetosense and Quantum Biology
Many animals navigate long distances using the Earth’s magnetic field, but the mechanism behind this “magnetosense” remains unclear. A new £6 million project led by the University of Oxford aims to understand the fundamental principles governing this light-dependent sense and potentially engineer novel biomedical tools. Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the research will utilize an interdisciplinary team across Oxford, Edinburgh, and St Andrews to investigate this fascinating phenomenon.
A leading hypothesis centers on a protein called cryptochrome, found in the animal’s eye. When cryptochrome absorbs light, it forms short-lived ‘radicals’ containing unpaired electrons and possessing ‘spin’ – a property sensitive to magnetic fields. The project proposes that the strength and direction of the magnetic field influence reactions involving these radicals, ultimately triggering nerve signals – essentially allowing the animal to “see” the magnetic field.
This research will examine cryptochromes across diverse species – from plants to mammals – to identify key similarities and differences in this transduction pathway. The team will trace the magnetic signalling cascade from the initial effect on the cryptochrome radicals to neural activity and observable behavior in mice. Outcomes are expected to include a detailed understanding of animal magnetosense and pioneering developments of technologies driven by magnetic fields.
Project Funding and Research Approach
The research project, “Quantum sensing in nature and synthetic biology,” is funded by a £6 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through their Strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) grants scheme. This funding supports curiosity-driven research with the potential to transform our understanding of biology and drive innovation. The project aims to understand how animals sense Earth’s magnetic field, specifically focusing on the light-dependent mechanism of animal magnetosense, and explore potential biomedical applications.
The research approach is interdisciplinary, bringing together experts from the University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and University of St Andrews. Researchers will investigate a range of cryptochromes—proteins found in the animal’s eye—across diverse species, from plants to mammals, to identify similarities and differences in magnetic signal transduction. This holistic study will trace the process from initial magnetic effects on the cryptochrome’s radicals to resulting neural activity and behavioral responses in living mice.
A key hypothesis centers on a quantum biology mechanism involving cryptochromes and the formation of ‘radicals’ with ‘spin’ sensitive to magnetic fields. The team will investigate how magnetic fields influence reactions involving these radicals, potentially triggering nerve signals and allowing the animal to ‘see’ the field. Ultimately, the project seeks to translate this understanding into new technologies, driving pioneering developments powered by magnetic fields.
The sLoLa Grants Scheme
The sLoLa grants scheme, run by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), supports “curiosity-driven research” with potential to transform our understanding of biology and drive innovation. A recent £6 million grant from the BBSRC, awarded through the sLoLa scheme, will fund a project led by Professor Christiane Timmel at the University of Oxford. This project focuses on understanding how animals sense the Earth’s magnetic field, aiming to unlock the principles behind animal magnetosense.
This ambitious project will utilize an interdisciplinary team from Oxford, Edinburgh, and St Andrews. Researchers will investigate a range of cryptochromes – proteins found in animals, plants, insects, and birds – to identify similarities and differences in the magnetic signalling pathway. The ultimate goal is to obtain a holistic understanding, from the initial magnetic effect on the protein to the resulting neural activity and behaviour in living mice.
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, highlights that long-term investments through the sLoLa scheme bring together diverse expertise. The research aims not only to understand the origins of animal magnetosense – described as one of nature’s most captivating secrets – but also to engineer new biotechnologies based on these principles. Further information about the BBSRC’s 2025 sLoLa grants is available on the BBSRC website.
The annual migration of many animals over vast distances represents one of the most impressive of nature’s spectacles. In addition to visual cues including the sun and stars, the evidence is clear that many of these expert navigators sense and use the Earth’s magnetic field on their journey.
Professor Christiane Timmel
Research Team and Key Investigators
The ambitious ‘Quantum sensing in nature and synthetic biology’ project will be led by Professor Christiane Timmel from Oxford’s Department of Chemistry. This research, backed by a £6 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), involves a cross-disciplinary team from the University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and University of St Andrews. The project aims to understand how animals sense the Earth’s magnetic field and potentially engineer new biomedical tools based on this natural ability.
The Oxford research team includes Mark Hankins, Kevin Henbest, Madhavi Krishnan, Harrison Steel, Andrew Baldwin, Justin Benesch, Christiane Timmel, Chris Schofield, Achillefs Kapanidis, Stuart Mackenzie, Stuart Peirson, and Sabine Huth-Rauschenbach. Their work focuses on a protein called cryptochrome, found in animals’ eyes, which is believed to initiate magnetic sensing through light-dependent radical formation and “spin” sensitivity. This research seeks to bridge the gap between this quantum step and the animal’s resulting behavior.
This project is funded through BBSRC’s Strategic Longer and Larger (sLoLa) grants scheme, supporting curiosity-driven research with potential for transformative innovation. Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, highlights that this investment brings together researchers with diverse expertise to tackle complex biological questions. The team will investigate cryptochromes across various species – plants, insects, birds, and mammals – to identify key differences in the transduction pathway.
