Birds found to have magnetic personalities UC...

Birds found to have magnetic personalities

UC Irvine researchers have found that migrating birds have

chemical reactions in their bodies that react with the Earth’s

magnetic field and keep them on track.

The results of the study, reported in the May 13 issue of Nature

magazine, dispel previous notions that birds relied on chunks of

magnetic material in their beaks or brain to find their way. It is

the first study to reveal how the birds detect fluctuations in

magnetic fields.

Thorsten Ritz, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and

colleagues used 12 European robins in the experiment. They exposed

them to magnetic fields and monitored their movement.

In the experiment, the birds became confused when the artificial

magnetic field went in a different direction than the Earth’s natural

magnetic field. Because the fields’ fluctuations were so quick, Ritz

found, it is likely they involve magnetically sensitive chemical

reactions.

CHOC Cancer Institute gets $10,000 donation

The National Assn. of Industrial and Office Properties’ Southern

California chapter made a $10,000 donation to the Children’s Hospital

of Orange County Cancer Institute on behalf of champion boxer “Sugar”

Shane Mosley.

The donation was made at the association’s annual Night at the

Fights black-tie dinner and boxing event two weeks ago.

Freeway connector will close for next 6 months

One of two lanes in the southbound connector road from the Costa

Mesa Freeway to the southbound San Diego Freeway will be closed for

road work for about six months.

The work is part of the final phase of the I-405/SR-55 Improvement

project. Those heading from the direction of Irvine seeking an

alternate route can exit the Costa Mesa Freeway at Macarthur

Boulevard, turning left onto Macarthur Boulevard and proceeding to

the southbound San Diego Freeway.

For more information, call Caltrans’ Transportation Helpline at

(800) 724-0353. For more information, visit https://www.octa.net.

Block party hosts need to sign up with city first

If you want to have a block party that requires a street closure

in Costa Mesa on the 4th of July, then you need to fill out an

application with the city.

To make sure these events are successful and don’t inconvenience

others too much, the city requires that residents complete the

application package and show proof of liability insurance coverage

for the event.

The city reminds all residents of the importance to sweep up and

properly remove and dispose of fireworks and their packaging from

city streets at the end of the evening. Also, fireworks are not

permitted to be discharged from any city park.

Applications are available by request or through the city’s

website. To make a request, call the city manager’s office at (714)

754-5327, stop by the office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive or log on to

https://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/news/formsdocs.htm. Application

materials need to be submitted by 5 p.m., June 23.

Pizza Hut will donate for veterans memorial

Satisfying your pizza craving at Pizza Huts in Costa Mesa will

benefit a proposed veterans memorial from May 20 to May 27.

The city and the Costa Mesa Community Foundation are sponsoring

the weeklong fundraiser. During that time, Pizza Huts throughout the

city will donate 20% of all take-out orders to this effort when a

customer presents a ticket from the fundraiser flier or mentions the

memorial. Fliers are available at City Hall and Costa Mesa’s

libraries and community centers.

The memorial, which will be built at Harbor Lawn Memorial

Cemetery, will recognize veterans of wars including and since World

War I who were killed and buried overseas. For more information, call

(714) 754-4950.