Scientists gave worms magnetic bacteria. They lived 43% longer

Researchers led by Prof. An Xu at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found that a magnetotactic bacterium (MTB) called Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 (AMB-1) can extend healthy lifespan in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. The team also identified the main mechanism behind the effect -- suppression of a form of cell death known as ferroptosis.

The findings were published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine .

Aging gradually reduces normal physiological function and raises the risk of many chronic diseases. Researchers have explored drugs and genetic approaches as possible anti-aging strategies, but questions about safety and practical clinical use remain.