Energy eating Bacteria

www.newscientist.com...

these guys eliminate intermediate chemical steps and directly nosh on electrons and breathe or excrete them. this is sort of like science fiction energy vampires or energy based lifeforms.

Unlike any other living thing on Earth, electric bacteria use energy in its purest form – naked electricity in the shape of electrons harvested from rocks and metals. We already knew about two types, Shewanella and Geobacter. Now, biologists are showing that they can entice many more out of rocks and marine mud by tempting them with a bit of electrical juice. Experiments growing bacteria on battery electrodes demonstrate that these novel, mind-boggling forms of life are essentially eating and excreting electricity.

a reply to: stormbringer1701

Wow! We better hope they don't breed with these guys:
www.nature.com...
Or else there will be a whole new kind of excuses for missing homework:
"Sorry teacher, but bacteria ate my computer"

Flesh eating bacteria + Energy eating bacteria = end of humans.

There would be no way to combat it. It would pick apart your electrons and cause your flesh to fall apart while eating the leftover flesh as it spreads.

Add to this, the ability to genetically manipulate simple organisms, and someone will figure out how to manufacture the above mentioned.

S&F OP. Nice find.

~Namaste

a reply to: stormbringer1701

We already have energy eating bacteria. They are called politicians.

Hmmm....I wonder if they could live symbiotically in our guts. I could give everyone shocks without dragging my feet on the carpet......I suppose I can use them as an excuse for my hair standing up all the time.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: stormbringer1701

We already have energy eating bacteria. They are called politicians.

Imagine a trillion Al Gores oozing out of marine mud.....each wanting a private jet and half a dozen extra mansions.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: stormbringer1701

We already have energy eating bacteria. They are called politicians.

Please don't confuse the political system as energetic.
It is a money sucking black hole.