Bacteria Can Build Nanowires 94
Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have discovered that under certain conditions, some very common bacteria can form nanowires. These bacteria were able to produce nanowires as small as 10 nanometers in diameter, but which can reach hundreds of microns in length. What is interesting here is that these nanowires are electrically conductive ones. This means that bacteria could be used to build microbial fuel cells or bacteria-powered batteries. As one researcher said, 'Earth appears to be hard-wired.'"
Re:Bacteria powered pacemakers? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Bacteria powered pacemakers? (Score:2, Informative)
This is not a power technology (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What would you clean the wires with? (Score:1, Informative)
You surely want the bacteria dead once you have built your circuit anyway. If you keep them alive, they could carry on making more wire which may then cause a short circuit and then screw up your circuit completely.
Ok, I know it was supposed to be a joke, but it was based on a stupid assumption.