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Nanotube-Excreting Bacteria Allow Mass Production

Posted by Zonk on from the building-tech-from-the-ground-up dept.

Invisible Pink Unicorn writes "Engineers at the University of California, Riverside have found semiconducting nanotubes produced by living bacteria — a discovery that could help in the creation of a new generation of nanoelectronic devices. This is the first time nanotubes have been shown to be produced by biological rather than chemical means. In a process that is not yet fully understood, the bacterium secretes polysacarides that seem to produce the template for the arsenic-sulfide nanotubes. These nanotubes behave as metals with electrical and photoconductive properties useful in nanoelectronics. The article abstract is available from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

10 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. more like a series of tubes by User+956 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In a process that is not yet fully understood, the bacterium secretes polysacarides that seem to produce the template for the arsenic-sulfide nanotubes.

    Yes, well, at least they've been proven to not be a truck.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Awesome... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A new process to create a multi-core CPU and beer at the same time!

  3. I keeeeeeel him by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    The son of a camel who wrote this article has taken the name of the sacred one(BBHHH) in vain! One hundred lashes is not too many!

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  4. Owwie! by mbstone · · Score: 4, Funny

    It must really hurt to excrete a nanotube. Maybe some nanoprunes would help.

  5. Re:If they sh*t it, they eat it... by hyades1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    This phenomenon is well-known, and has frequently been described in scientific literature under the term "Politicojournalistivorism".

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  6. Re:arsenic-sulphide? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everyone knows not to mix e-waste with normal garbage, so it doesn't end up in landfills.

  7. Re:If they sh*t it, they eat it... by hanshotfirst · · Score: 2, Funny

    Furthermore, should the need arise, I'm sure stuff made from carbon nanotubes can be made resistant to consumption by organisms for its expected lifetime just as for example a wooden ship, or a sheet of paper, or food, or whatever, can.
    Unless you own a Labrador retriever. Trust me, they'll eat anything. Mine has an affinity for checkbook registers, including the vinyl cover.
    --
    Why, oh why, didn't I take the Blue Pill?
  8. I'm still working on it ... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've been trying to train myself to excrete nanotubes, but so far all I've gotten are macrorods.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  9. Correction to dept. by callmevinny · · Score: 2, Funny

    building-tech-from-the-bottom-up

  10. Arsenic sulfide? by perbert · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is just me, or is there irony in the fact that the nanopoop is AsS?