Magnetic fields and cell growth

Biophysics Our world is saturated with low-level magnetism. Powerful magnetic fields can alter biological processes like the growth of cells and tissues, but what about lower levels? Van Huizen et al. applied magnetic fields of less than 1 millitesla to the stem cells of flatworms. Fields from 100 to 400 microtesla slowed cell growth, whereas fields greater than 500 microtesla increased growth. A 45-microtesla field, corresponding to ambient magnetism typical of Earth, provided a control condition. Although therapeutic applications are still far off, these findings hold promise for stimulating cellular generation or for muting growth of cancer cells. Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aau7201 (2019).