Experimental and correlational evidence that biological systems are influenced by intensity and variation of geomagnetic fields

Abstract

Fluctuations in the Earth’s geomagnetic environment have been implicated in numerous biological processes as small as ion transport across a cellular membrane to as gross as the activity and behaviour of an individual. Treatment of demyelinated planaria with a six minute exposure to a magnetic field which simulates the onset of a geomagnetic storm resulted in a reduction of atypical behaviours that mimics observations of planaria not treated with a demyelinating agent. There was also a strong correlation observed between the North/South component of the Earth’s geomagnetic field and the prevalence of multiple sclerosis around the world. Increases in the local geomagnetic field strength due to geomagnetic disturbances can also influence the electrophysiological and negatively impact the sporting performance of athletes. These results indicate that biological systems are heavily influenced by changes in their geomagnetic environment, and certain disease acquisition and progression may be intrinsically tied to these energies.