Earlier this year scientists announced that a meteorite offered evidence of ancient life on Mars. The meteorite contained magnetic particles similar to those made by bacteria on Earth. Bazylinski has been studying magnetotactic, or magnet-producing, bacteria, which are found in many freshwater and marine environments. He leads one of the few labs capable of culturing them. In November, Bazylinski and other researchers will meet with NASA officials to discuss their work.
Magnetotactic bacteria are unusual in several ways.
They soak up hundreds to thousands times more iron than other bacteria. They forge magnetosomes, which are membrane-surrounded magnetic particles made of iron oxide or iron sulfide. They move along the lines of the earth's magnetic field, as well as other magnetic fields. Place a magnet next to a drop of water containing the bacteria and hordes of them swarm over to that side of the drop. Bazylinski is trying to find answers.