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Algae Can Carry Cargo

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the dont-put-the-cart-before-the-single-celled-organism dept.

Steve Nixon writes "Recently, a team of scientists devised a way to make single-celled algae bear loads over distances of several centimeters--a tactic that the researchers say could prove useful in tiny machines. Algae and other single-celled organisms power their movements with molecular motors. 'Scientists have long coveted these motors for use in micromachinery,' notes chemist Douglas B. Weibel of Harvard University.

11 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Great! Now Kozmo.com can finally return! by glomph · · Score: 4, Funny

    And stoners can again get pizza and Mountain Dew delivered directly to their sofa by this tireless algae crew (better than the old slime molds that used to do the job!)

  2. Wanted: a few billion algae to help me move by w98 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm getting married Sept 17th and will need help moving furniture and boxes of geek books...

    --
    my geeklog
  3. Sure, they can carry cargo... by Scareduck · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... but can you get a teensy, tiny corporate logo on their sides?

    --

    Dog is my co-pilot.

  4. Let my Algae go! by Alystair · · Score: 5, Funny

    But the real question is if they can make tiny pyramids.

  5. TCP/OA by kevin_conaway · · Score: 5, Funny

    Old and busted: TCP/IP

    New Hotness: TCP Over Algae!

    1. Re:TCP/OA by QuantaStarFire · · Score: 5, Funny

      While your idea is sound in theory, how have you solved the problem of data loss from being eaten by marine life?

      Pinging yahoo.com [216.109.112.135] with 32 bytes of data:

      Reply from 216.109.112.135: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=51
      Request eaten by trout.
      Reply from 216.109.112.135: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=51
      Request eaten by salmon.

      Ping statistics for 216.109.112.135:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 2, Lost = 0, Eaten = 2 (50% loss)
  6. Algae cargo carriers will be replaced by nanobots by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 5, Funny

    unless they get a strong union like the Teamsters.

    Just imagine a picket line of these guys ....

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  7. Re:Just wait until they organize... by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny
    > > Recently, a team of scientists devised a way to make single-celled algae bear loads over distances of several centimeters
    >
    > Just wait until they organize... and go on strike. Can't you just see the little picket signs circling around the pond?

    Algae Shrugs!

    "To hell with with all multicellular organisms! They're all a bunch of looters and moochers!"

    (Also by the same author, Photosynthesis: The Unknown Ideal! and The Fountain-liner!)

  8. A Change for Once... by Comatose51 · · Score: 4, Funny

    They for one welcome their new light emitting, load passing overlords.

    --
    EvilCON - Made Famous by /.
  9. SHHHH! Don't tell PETA! by Tsu+Dho+Nimh · · Score: 4, Funny

    PETA = People for the Ethical Treatment of Algae

  10. I'm not gonna carry it... by sohp · · Score: 4, Funny

    eukaryote!