Iron is essential to cells, but too much can damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. In a study published in Cell, co-senior authors Whitney Henry and Ankur Jain, together with first author Pushkal Sharma and colleagues, found that molecules called polyamines buffer reactive iron, protecting cells from ferroptosis, an iron-driven form of cell death. These findings reveal a previously unknown cellular defense and offer clues for novel cancer therapies and for understanding early-onset Parkinson’s disease.