Bio-wires 6000 times thinner than your hair enhance your phone's memory

A team of microbiologists from Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, has found a new way to create bio-wires 6000 times thinner than human hair called "microbial nanowires."

The researchers said that the microbial nanowires are made of genetically modified soil bacteria, Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria, which have a diameter of 1.5 nanometers, about one-sixth of that of human hair, but have a 2000-fold increase in conductivity , And very durable.

Dr. Derek R. Lovley, principal investigator of the research team, said the microbial nanowires can be produced on a large scale because they are made of inexpensive materials such as amino acids that can be obtained by fermenting bacteria.

In an interview with the media, Dr. Derek R. Lovley said: "We are very excited about the possibility of synthesizing bio-wires, which can be applied to new flexible electronic products and even solar energy equipment."

It is understood that this study is funded by the United States Naval Research Office, so microbial nanowires may also be used in the military field. For example, nanowires can supply electricity to microorganisms and produce a fuel-butanol like gasoline. In addition, nanowires can also provide current to some microbes and collect signals of contaminants, toxins or explosives.

For ordinary consumers, the main purpose of this microbial nanowire can be applied to smart phones, so that small size mobile phones can have more memory space.