Gas vesicle

Gas vesicles are tiny, hollow protein structures found in certain bacteria and archaea that act like built-in flotation devices, allowing these microscopic organisms to rise or sink through water by controlling the amount of gas trapped inside. These remarkable cellular balloons are made of a rigid protein shell that can withstand pressure while keeping gases in, giving microbes in oceans, lakes, and other aquatic environments precise control over their position in the water column. Scientists are now studying gas vesicles as potential tools for medical imaging and biotechnology, making them useful far beyond their natural purpose in nature.