Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Bacteria Powered Laptops.... BACTERIA
No, this is not a typo. Yes, you read it correctly and No, I am not drunk. Bacteria produce electricity. Derek Lovely, director of the Environmental Biotechnology Center at UMass Amherst (University of Massachusetts), found this micro-organism in 1987 on the bottom of the Potomac River.
Geobacter is a member of the microbial family Geobacteraceae and is also known as Geobacter metallireducens. These organisms can destory petroleum contaminants in polluted groundwater. They are also able to remove radioactive metal contaminants from groundwater.
Great!!! They are good for the environment. How can they power a laptop? These organisms produce electrons or electrical energy as they consume pollutants or organic waste. Derek Lovely's team have powered calculators and lightbulbs in the lab. The next step seems to be a microbial fuel cells or bacterial batteries to power digital cameras, mobile phone and even laptops. An excerpt from the article on how it could be used to power a laptop:
"Imagine you get off a plane and want to use your laptop, but your battery is dead and there’s nowhere to plug in your computer. You go to the nearest Starbucks, buy a coffee, grab more than your share of sugar packets, and empty half into your cup and half into your laptop. Voila! Both you and your computer are powered up."
Read the full article on Geobacter and Derek Lovely's efforts.
Geobacter is a member of the microbial family Geobacteraceae and is also known as Geobacter metallireducens. These organisms can destory petroleum contaminants in polluted groundwater. They are also able to remove radioactive metal contaminants from groundwater.
Great!!! They are good for the environment. How can they power a laptop? These organisms produce electrons or electrical energy as they consume pollutants or organic waste. Derek Lovely's team have powered calculators and lightbulbs in the lab. The next step seems to be a microbial fuel cells or bacterial batteries to power digital cameras, mobile phone and even laptops. An excerpt from the article on how it could be used to power a laptop:
"Imagine you get off a plane and want to use your laptop, but your battery is dead and there’s nowhere to plug in your computer. You go to the nearest Starbucks, buy a coffee, grab more than your share of sugar packets, and empty half into your cup and half into your laptop. Voila! Both you and your computer are powered up."
Read the full article on Geobacter and Derek Lovely's efforts.
