New studies at MIT have shown a relationship between a bacteria and other nonliving materials that when combined, can create new forms of solar panels. The non-living bacteria, when combined with the more complicated metallic base, can conduct electricity as shown by MIT student's success in creating panel powered lights of many different colors. Although no large scale amount of electricity has been generated by the small scale experiments, the concept alone of an extremely low maintenance, self pro-creating and self repairing bacterial screen shows promise as a cheap option for lesser developed countries. By using the naturally found, and then modified bacteria, the self sustaining, naturally expanding bacterium shows promise for future scientific and real life application.
I find it exciting when the highly compatible designs found in nature are rediscovered as key parts of a new technological advancement. The use of bacteria in a low maintenance solar panel shows huge promise as Bactria, being one of life's most simple organisms, needs no more than the essential sunlight to survive and now, produce electricity. I hope that these panels are improved on and produced in order to provide a cheap form of electricity to those who need it most.
To read more, see: http://qz.com/191237/twitter-just-turned-8-its-time-for-it-to-grow-up-or-be-disrupted/
This is absolutely incredible! Not only would they be self-sustaining and cheap, they would be using a resource that goes unharnessed the majority of the time. That's a very interesting discovery.
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful, especially because of the growing need for alternative energy throughout the world.
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