New Instruments Study Microscopic Magnetos

Magnetotactic bacteria are found in both fresh and salt water, and feature unique organelles that contain nano-sized iron crystals, making the bacteria swim in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. These little compass needles are valuable to scientists studying layers of sedimentary rock, but the elaborate electromagnetic systems used to observe them have proven problematic. Now, researchers have developed a simple but effective tool for monitoring the bacteria's movement by using a single permanent magnet positioned on top of a series of rotating gears. The beauty of this simple system is that it can be used with any light microscope and it doesn't require a hefty power supply to create the magnetic field.

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