That’s a penetrating question. Polymetallic nodules primarily serve a physical and geochemical role rather than an electromagnetic one, providing the only hard substrate across vast silt plains for corals, sponges, and xenophyophores. From my time as a recreational wreck-diver, I’ve seen how anything on the seabed becomes a magnet for life; nodules are no different. Some research suggests they may act as tiny “geobatteries,” producing small voltages that influence microbial processes, though the ecological significance of this is still unknown. Already seen as the next great resource prize, and with the starting pistol fired in the race to harvest them, I suspect — as always — ecological concerns will be secondary.