now this we should have a panel about

[jinian]

Different bacteria link up their metabolisms with electroconductive minerals. This is astounding, and I love it. I realize the planet in High Wizardry was made of layered silicon through vigorous astronomical handwaving, but that's what this immediately sounded like to me. If they're really making magnetite, and there's an adaptive benefit to what is basically self-organizing circuitry, we need some major SF writing to happen over here right now.

[ETA: I just submitted a panel idea based on this for next year's Wiscon.]