Binding energies and structure of transition metal negative ionsParamagnetic ions in water shorten the spin-lattice relaxation time Tl of the water protons. The effectiveness with which the relaxation takes place depends not only on the ion concentration, but also on the environment of the paramagnetic ion. In some cases where the paramagnetic ion is bound to a large molecule such as DNA, it shortens the proton relaxation time to a greater extent than when it is in solution. By measuring Tl by a pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance method, we have studied the binding of transition metal ions to DNA. We have obtained estimates for the number of available binding sites as well as information on the type of site which the various ions are bound to.

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR), magnetization reversal, and domain structure of magnetron sputtered spin valve [NiFe/Au/Co/Au]N multilayers consisting of ferromagnetic layers with alternating in-plane (NiFe) and out-of-plane (Co) magnetic anisotropy has been investigated. For 0.4<tCo<1.2 nm GMR dependencies characterized by a linear and almost nonhysteretic dependence of resistance on the magnetic field were found. Within the hysteretic range of the magnetization reversal of the Co layers, for N>3, the neighboring magnetic layers were observed to be coupled. This coupling is of magnetostatic origin. The effective coupling field, estimated from GMR dependencies, is of the order of 100 kA/m. Micromagnetic simulations confirm that the domain structure of Co layers influences the behavior of NiFe layers.

Earth's geomagnetic field has undergone critical changes in the past. Studies on the influence of the magnetic field on Earth’s organisms are crucial for the understanding of evolution of life on Earth and astrobiological considerations. Numerous studies conducted both on plants and animals confirmed the significant influence of the geomagnetic field on the metabolism of living organisms. Water bears (Tardigrada), which are a mong the most resistant animals due to their cryptobiotic abilities, show significant resistance to a number of environmental stressors, but the influence of the geomagnetic field on their fitness has not been addressed before. In our studies, we used eutardigrade Hypsibius dujardini to analyse whether isolation from the geomagnetic field had an effect on mortality. We found that Hypsibius dujardini specimens demonstrated relatively high mortality during anhydrobiosis, also in control groups exposed to the normal geomagnetic field. Moreover, similar mortality was observed in anhydrobiotic specimens isolated from the geomagnetic field. However, a significant difference was noted between tardigrade survival and the moment of their isolation from the geomagnetic field. In particular, tardigrade mortality substantially increased in absence of a magnetic field during the process of entering anhydrobiosis and returning to active life. Our results suggest that these processes rely on complex metabolic processes that are critically influenced by the geomagnetic field.