Phys.org  May 8, 2023 Researchers in Germany purified water containing uranium using a special kind of bacteria known as magnetotactic bacteria which can accumulate dissolved heavy metal in their cell walls. The bacteria form nanoscopic magnetic crystals within the cell which are arranged like a row of beads. Each individual magnetic crystal is embedded in a protective membrane. The crystals and membrane form the magnetosome which the bacteria use to align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field and orientate themselves in their habitat. It also makes them suitable for simple separation processes. The cell walls of magnetotactic bacteria are surrounded […]