Yale Scientists Discover That Light Accelerates Conductivity in Nature’s “Electric Grid”
The soil and oceans contain a network of microscopic nanowires produced by bacteria that "breathe" by releasing extra electrons, creating an inbuilt electrical grid for the environment. Scientists from Yale University have discovered that light is an unexpected ally in promoting this electronic activity in biofilm bacteria. They found that exposing bacteria-produced nanowires to light increased their electrical conductivity by up to 100 times. The senior author, associate professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (MBB) at Yale's Microbial Sciences Institute on Yale's West Campus, Nikhil Malvankar, noted that the photocurrent demonstrated by the dramatic current increases in nanowires exposed to light is stable and robust and lasts for hours. The findings may offer fresh perspectives as researchers look for new ways to utilize this submerged electrical current. It might be utilized, for instance, to aid in the removal of biohazard waste or produce fresh renewa...