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New Bacterium Could Herald Bio-Batteries

Posted by timothy on from the are-animals-bio-batteries dept.

Clever Pun writes "According to this BBC article, a newly discovered bacterium is able to convert 'uranium and other radionuclides dissolved in water to solid compounds that can be extracted.' It reduces (adds electrons to) positively charged metal ions, making them insoluble in water (making them easier to clean up), which creates small charges of electricity. It has been speculated that this bacterium could potentially be used in a sort of bio-battery. Matrix v0.1b, anyone?"

3 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. My Batteries Died... by Sunlighter · · Score: 5, Funny

    That phrase will have new meaning...

    --
    Sunlit World Scheme. Weird and different.
  2. oh no you didn't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    add electrons to the heavy metal ions to newtralize them

    *record scraaaaatch*

    "newtralize"?

    oh, man. that's a new low.

  3. Re:Evolution by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 2, Funny

    well one day a bacterium came along and said "gee, I have no niche I wish there was some where I could specialize"

    then the bacterium noticed a glowing piece of rock that was not being touched by anything.

    "hmm" said the bacterium, "I could eat that thing"

    and so became the Uranium eating bacterium.

    --



    I am the Alpha and the Omega-3