Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Arrual on 28/02/2015 06:05:51

Title: Bacteria that eats electricity?
Post by: Arrual on 28/02/2015 06:05:51

In the Popular science magazine they recently mentioned bacteria eating electricity. I would like to know how?

Title: Re: Bacteria that eats electricity?
Post by: PmbPhy on 28/02/2015 06:17:05

Quote from: Arrual on 28/02/2015 06:05:51

In the Popular science magazine they recently mentioned bacteria eating electricity. I would like to know how?

People misuse the term electricity a great deal of the time. It really refers to a set of things. The term is defined as follows

Quote

Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and flow of electric charge.

I think what's actually going on is that the bacteria ingest electrons somehow.

Title: Re: Bacteria that eats electricity?
Post by: Bill S on 01/03/2015 03:11:40

I think you are spot on there, Pete.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186537-biologists-discover-electric-bacteria-that-eat-pure-electrons-rather-than-sugar-redefining-the-tenacity-of-life