bio

Magnetosome

A tiny magnetic crystal - usually magnetite (Fe₃O₄) - that certain bacteria grow inside themselves, strung into a chain that acts as a compass needle. With it, magnetotactic bacteria align to Earth's magnetic field and swim toward the oxygen level they prefer. The machinery proves that biologically mineralizing magnetic crystals is cheap, ancient, and widespread - exactly the kind of Earth precedent that makes Pandoran fauna's magnetic sense so believable.