Scientists Discover BPS Systems: Bovine Positioning Systems

This has absolutely nothing to do with the law, policy, religion, or any connection to this site with the possible exception of the environment. However, I find it amazing that after thousands of years of herding cattle, scientists have discovered that cows tend to uniformly align themselves in the north-south direction. This makes them something of bovine compasses — a condition apparently shared with deer and other animals.

Scientists used the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences to reveal their bovine bombshell. It appears to be the result of Earth’s magnetic poles. Birds and salmon are also known to use the magnetic poles and bats are known to have a “magnetic compass.”

The new BPS has the advantage of actually walking next to backpackers and being covered with a pleasant fur exterior. They can also produce milk, which is something that the GPS systems have never done. Of course, there is the problem of feeding and herding a cow on long backpacking trips — and that little issue of cow “production.” Compass manufacturers are probably safe, but it you are ever lost, just ask a cow.

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