Alternative energy research that makes bacteria and other microbes as an energy source has come closer to reality. Bacteria powered gadgets will attend?Progress in the study occurred after the latest findings from researchers in the UK. As quoted by Reuters on Tuesday ( 05/24/2011 ), scientists discovered the existence of 'wires' of the bacteria studied.
What researchers found was the structure of the bacteria that turned out to have some kind of ' wires ' that penetrates the cell wall. Body parts are so small that it is useful to remove the remaining electrical energy that is not needed the microbes.
Termuan Given this, researchers could design a better electrode to capture the energy released bacteria. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S.
" Before this, harvesting electricity from the same bacteria as a tool without knowing what kind of battery used. Now you 've got blueprints, " researcher Tom Clarke from the University of East Anglia, England says.
According to Clarke, all living creatures produce electricity. For example, humans use electricity to run the brain and heart.
However, this bacterium has a mechanism to release the excess electricity. Because Clarke says, if there is accumulation of electricity all bacterial activity would stop.
Bacterium called Shewanella oneidensis investigated. Living bacteria exist in environments without oxygen (anaerobic). According to Clarke, it took until ten years more before the bacteria can be used for energy sources. For example, for a light or mobile phone.
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