A bacterium's built-in compass, explained: Single-cell magnetometry confirms Earth-field alignment https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bacterium-built-compass-cell-magnetometry.html Paper: https://journals.aps.org/pre/abstract/10.1103/lffn-l7m6

"Inside this bacterium is a chain of magnetic nanoparticles. These act like a biological compass and allow the bacterium to align with Earth's magnetic field. In their natural habitat, bodies of water or moist sediments, this compass helps the #bacteria to advance in a systematic manner when searching for the optimal living conditions."