Magnets made by soil bacteria offer hope for breast and prostate cancer

Scientists at Sheffield University have found a novel way of guiding anti-tumour viruses to their target

Scientists are developing magnetically guided microscopic projectiles that can be injected into patients' blood to attack breast, prostate and other tumours.

The project - led by researchers at Sheffield University - builds on progress in two key medical fields. The first involves viruses that specifically attack tumours. The second focuses on soil bacteria that manufacture magnets which they use to align themselves in the Earth's magnetic field.