IfEnergy

Wired Earth

Filed in archive Edge Technology on August 22, 2006

Wired Earth
The Earth has been wired long before the age of the internet. The man who discovered and initiated research on microbial fuel cells is Yuri Gorby, a scientist from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy. He discovered that a microbe produces tiny electrically conducive wires from its cell membrane. With this discovery, scientists have unearthed the ability of bacterial species to create electricity (i.e. microbial fuel cells). Today, the study of electrical ability across other species of bacteria are being studied, and it looks like more and more species are being found to be applicable for microbial fuel cell use, including those that are involved in fermentation and photosynthesis.

Studies into the physiological characteristics of these species showed that the common thread involved depriving microbes of something it needed to shed excess energy in the form of electrons. By depriving these microbes of something they need, they form nanowires that reach out and connect cells from one to another form thus constituting an electrically integrated community. According to Gorby:

"The physiological and ecological implications for these interactions are not currently known, but the effect is suggestive of a highly organized form of energy distribution among members of the oldest and most sustainable life forms on the planet."

And that is what man will tap as a renewable and sustainable energy resource in a few years. The potential of microbial fuel cells are truly spectacular, don't you think? Read the full article here.



Permalink: Wired Earth

Tags: Yuri  Gorby  Pacific  Northwest  National  Laboratory  US  Department  of  Energy  Microbial  Fuel  Cell  Renewab 

Vote for Wired Earth:

  • Currently 9.33/10
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
Rating: 9.33 out of 3 vote(s) cast.
 
Share It
RSSrss
Google google
Yahoo! yahoo
Addthis Subscribe using any feed reader!
Bloglines Bloglines
TwitterFollow us on Twitter!
Most Popular   Alternative Energy   Automobiles   Base Effort   Best of   Biofuel   Biogas   Biomass   Capital Investing   Carbon Neutral   Clean Coal   Current News   Did you know   Earth Science   Edge Technology   Electric Cars   Energy Efficiency   Fuel Prices   Future   Geothermal   Global Climate