New Technique Identifies Electricity-Producing Bacteria
TOPICS:BacteriaMechanical EngineeringMicrofluidicsMIT
By JENNIFER CHU, MIT NEWS OFFICE JANUARY 15, 2019

Technique Identifies Electricity Producing Bacteria
A microfluidic technique quickly sorts bacteria based on their capability to generate electricity. Image: Qianru Wang

Microbes screened with a new microfluidic process might be used in power generation or environmental cleanup.

Living in extreme conditions requires creative adaptations. For certain species of bacteria that exist in oxygen-deprived environments, this means finding a way to breathe that doesn’t involve oxygen. These hardy microbes, which can be found deep within mines, at the bottom of lakes, and even in the human gut, have evolved a unique form of breathing that involves excreting and pumping out electrons. In other words, these microbes can actually
produce electricity. https://scitechdaily.com/new-technique-identifies-electricity-producing-bacteria/