Lyrical magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria can synthesize intracellular nanometersized magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) inclusions called magnetosomes which facilitate the cells orient along the geomagnetic field lines as they swim. This picture shows four bacteria, recently isolated from Lake Miyun in Beiijng (China). They form double chains of magnetosomes and two large sulfur-rich granules. These four bacteria, which look like four faces, constitue a screen full of emotion, blue, happy, sad and grieved.