That'll Just Wreak Havoc at Airport Security

Emory University scientists have developed mammalian cells that produce magnetic nanoparticles to aid medical researchers in tracking cells, reports MIT's Tech Review. The scientists took a gene from pond bacteria that use small magnetic particles as a sort of compass and inserted it into mouse cells which then produced their own magnetic nanoparticles. When those mouse cells were inserted into a live mouse's brain, the cells could easily be seen on an MRI. "If genetically engineering cells to produce their own magnetic nanoparticles proves successful, this provides a new window through which to view many biological processes as they unfold, from the formation of tumors to the migration of stem cells injected to treat disease," says the article.