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Related Concept Videos

Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...
Magnetic Fields01:27

Magnetic Fields

A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
Ferromagnetism01:31

Ferromagnetism

Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability01:31

Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability

In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Potential Due to a Magnetized Object01:24

Potential Due to a Magnetized Object

Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment
05:57

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment

Published on: November 15, 2012

Information storing by biomagnetites.

Istvan Bókkon, Vahid Salari

    Journal of Biological Physics
    |September 4, 2009
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Biogenic magnetites, found universally in cells, may function as biological recorders. These unique biomaterials could capture information about Earth's magnetic field, aiding navigation in migratory birds.

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    Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
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    Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

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    Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
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    Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

    Published on: October 17, 2018

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

    Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment
    05:57

    Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment

    Published on: November 15, 2012

    Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
    08:13

    Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

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    Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
    10:07

    Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

    Published on: October 17, 2018

    Area of Science:

    • Biophysics
    • Cell Biology
    • Geophysics

    Background:

    • Biogenic magnetites are found universally in living organisms.
    • Their role in cellular processes remains largely speculative.
    • Nanoscale organic and inorganic processes can be indistinguishable.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To hypothesize a biological function for specialized biomagnetites.
    • To propose biomagnetites as recorders of cellular electromagnetic information.
    • To suggest a role in recording Earth's magnetic vector potential.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing experimental data on biomagnetite formation.
    • Theoretical consideration of biophysical properties of biomagnetites.
    • Hypothesis formulation based on nanoscale observations and cellular electromagnetism.

    Main Results:

    • Biomagnetite crystal formation appears to be a universal cellular phenomenon.
    • Living cells exhibit quantum properties beyond simple charge-based electronics.
    • Biomagnetites possess unique biophysical properties suggesting a biological function.

    Conclusions:

    • Biomagnetites, developed with organic molecules and cellular fields, likely serve a biological purpose.
    • These biomagnetites may record information about Earth's magnetic vector potential.
    • This recording function could be crucial for migratory navigation in birds.