Gray Whales (IMAGE) Duke University Caption California gray whales like these mothers and calves are 4.3 times more likely to strand themselves during a burst of cosmic radio static from a solar flare, further evidence that they navigate by Earth's magnetic field. Credit Nicholas Metheny NOAA Usage Restrictions Must Credit Nicholas Metheny NOAA License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.