A new research suggested that humans also have the ability to perceive polarization of light, which helps bees, ants and some marine species like octopuses and cuttlefish to navigate.

Scientists hope that findings of the study could pave way for development of a device that could help them detect the risk of Age-related Macular degeneration.

Scientists at University of Bristol said it is known that there are two properties of light - color and brightness. However, the third property is called polarization, which tells us the orientation in which the light waves are oscillating.

If you are holding one end of the rope with the other tied up and if you move the rope side to side, it means that the wave that is generated is horizontally polarized. But if you do the same thing up and down, it generates a wave this is vertically polarized.

Insects such as bees and ants use this polarization pattern in the sky for their navigation needs. "Haidinger's brushes usually fade in a couple of seconds as your brain processes them out. This is one of the reasons that few people notice them day to day, and why they have previously been fairly difficult to study", said Dr Juliette McGregor, another lead author of study.

Researcher for the study developed special filters to vary the percentage of polarized light from 0 to 100 % and tested the minimum percentage polarization at which Haidinger's brushes could be detected.

They found that among 24 people, the average polarization sensitivity threshold was 56%. Some people were able to see Haidinger's brushes when the light was less than 25 % polarized.

By using LCD screens researchers were also able to make the first measurements of the dynamics of Haidinger's brushes, confirming the prediction that some individuals would perceive a 'flip-flop' effect, as the polarization angle is rotated.