And Finally... Toads can predict earthquakes (not sure how they tell us though?)

By James Shepherd on Mar 31, 10 09:30 AM in News

Toads can predict earthquakes five days before they hit, scientists say.

They use their inbuilt early warning system to detect tiny changes in the Earth's electro-magnetic field and electrical currents to hop it.

Researchers found 96% of male Bufo bufo toads abandoned their natural instinct to protect spawn at breeding spots five days before the L'Aquilain earthquake in Italy last year.

And three days before the disaster hit 46 miles away, all the toads had left, the Open University research found.

Researcher Dr Rachel Grant said: "Our study is one of the first of its kind and suggests toads detect preseismic cues such as the release of gases and charged particles and use these as an early warning system."

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