There is a laboratory in Montana working with the government, everyday citizens, scientist, and everyone in between.
The lab located at MSU works to help identify elements through visual analysis. The lab has an astonishing assortment of high-tech equipment that other scientist researchers, or even companies around the country use in order to complete their research or projects.
Dr. Sara Maccagnano-Zacher the Imaging and Chemical Analysis Lab manager explains a fascinating recent project that the lab conducted regarding unique bacteria.
“We have someone who has these magnetotactic bacteria. So, these are bacteria that use the magnetic field lines of earth to orient themselves correctly for feeding. The reason they can align themself with the magnetic field of earth is that they have these little iron particles in their body in these lines and he wanted to see these iron particles in these bacteria. He used the elemental mapping as he imaged one of these tiny bacteria, and he could image the presence of iron sulfur exactly locating these iron lines inside the bacteria itself. So, he got an image, and he got the elemental mapping, and he got to learn a lot about how these little bacteria orient themself on the magnetic field of earth.” -Dr. Sara Maccagnano-Zacher
