“Cyborg” bugs, created from bacteria covered in tiny semiconductors, which produce acetic acid, a chemical that can be transformed into fuel and plastic, have been developed by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley. The bugs improve on the natural, but inefficient, process of photosynthesis in plants. Whereas other artificial photosynthesis techniques require expensive solid electrodes, the new system simply requires large vats of liquid to be exposed to the sun. In their paper published online today in Nature Communications, the Berkeley team describes how they built an array of more than 100 such devices using inexpensive materials like plastic bottles or aluminum foil.
“Cyborg” bugs, created from bacteria covered in tiny semiconductors, which produce acetic acid, a chemical that can be transformed into fuel and plastic, have been developed by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley. The bugs improve on the natural, but inefficient, process of photosynthesis in plants. Whereas other artificial photosynthesis techniques require expensive solid electrodes, the new system simply requires large vats of liquid to be exposed to the sun. The bacteria are self-replicating and self-regenerating, making the technology low waste and suitable for rural and developing regions.