Latest news with #Ca.Electrothrixyaqonensis
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Discover New Bacteria That Conduct Electricity Like a Wire
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A newly discovered bacterium wiggling about in the mudflats of the Oregon coast could advance a new era of bioelectric devices. It's been named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis, in honor of the First Nations Yaqo'n people local to the area it was found, and it conducts electricity just like a wire does. This is not unique, but Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis has some fascinating traits of its own that set it apart from other conducting microbes. Collectively, these organisms are known as cable bacteria, and only a handful are known, split between two candidate (Ca.) genera that are yet to be cultured and formally described – Ca. Electrothrix and Ca. Electronema. They live in sedimentary environments, and arrange themselves, end-to-end, in long threads that transport electrons. The purpose of this is a division of metabolic labor between individual cells in the variably oxygenated environment in which they live. It's a true collective, as bacterial colonies often are, but in a manner uniquely suited to their murky, soggy home. Even among a peculiar set of species, though, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis stands out. "This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments," says microbiologist Cheng Li of Oregon State University and James Madison University. "It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules." Led by microbiologist Anwar Hiralal of the University of Antwerp in Belgium, the researchers isolated and studied the bacterium using genomic, morphological, spectroscopic, and electrical characterization techniques. Their results revealed that it has some morphological differences from other cable bacteria, as well as genetic similarities to both genera. Among the most important findings were the pronounced ridges, as well as the extracellular sheaths the microbes exude when they form their long, connected strands. A filament of Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis. (Oregon State University) These strands are how the bacteria perform reduction-oxidation reactions over long distances (up to several centimeters). The cells buried deeper in the sediment, where they can't access oxygen, create energy by metabolizing sulfide. This produces electrons, which they transport up to the oxygen-rich layer, where the upper cells use oxygen or nitrate to receive the electrons. This behavior, the researchers say, is something humans could tap into for purposes such as food safety and environmental cleanup. "These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments," Li says. "Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics." Further work can help refine the position of this new species in the cable bacteria family tree, and what we can learn from it. "Its non-conformist metabolic traits highlight the complex evolutionary dynamics within the cable bacteria clade," the researchers write, "and suggest a broader functional and ecological diversity within this clade than previously recognized." The research has been published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Related News
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Bioelectric bacteria on steroids' could aid in pollutant cleanup and energy renewal
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A recently discovered species of bacteria is lighting up the scientific space. The organism is capable of conducting electricity effectively, almost like a cable wire. The bacteria could be used in the field of bioelectrics and also has the potential to help clean up pollution. A new species of bacteria has the ability to act as electric wiring, according to a study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis is a cable bacteria, meaning it is "built from rod-shaped cells attached end to end," said Popular Mechanics. The bacteria's electrical conductivity is an unusual trait and is likely an "adaptation that optimizes their metabolic processes in the sediment environments in which they live," said a press statement about the study. While Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis are not the only bacteria able to conduct electricity, they are considered "bioelectric bacteria on steroids," said Popular Mechanics. The species "stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential," Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, said in the press statement. They have "distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules." Specifically, the species is "transferring electrons along its body," and "shuttling charges through sediments in its environment," said BGR. The species also contains genes and metabolic pathways that are a mix of two different bacterial genera. "This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments," Li said. Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis could be "ushering in a new era of bioelectronic devices for use in medicine, industry, food safety and environmental monitoring and cleanup," said the press release. "These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments," said Li. This may be especially beneficial as remediation — defined as the act of reversing or stopping environmental damage — "can be one of the most time-consuming and costly aspects of infrastructure projects," said Popular Mechanics. "Particularly if a former brownfield site hopes to be reclaimed as a park or another public space." Using bacteria to clean up soil is a sustainable form of remediation because they are "made of proteins and self-replicating cells," said BGR. The applications of this bacteria go beyond pollution cleanup. Its discovery "expands our understanding of the genetic and morphological diversity of cable bacteria," said the study. The bacteria's nickel proteins can also "serve as a model for developing new materials in clean energy or sensor technology," said BGR. "Combined with other advancements in generating electricity — like with the Earth's rotation or by capturing energy from falling rain — this discovery could help power a new generation of renewable energy."
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Remarkable Life Form Conducts Electricity Like a Wire
Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis—a cable bacteria discovered along the coast of Oregon—has the remarkable ability to conduct electricity. According to researchers, this bacteria 'stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential.' This newly discovered bacteria could be ideal for a variety of bioelectric applications, including in the fields of medicine, industry, and environmental remediation (as the bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants). Today, human society is powered by the artificial electricity generated by turbines, nuclear reactors, and photovoltaics. But the very first investigations into the wonders of electricity were biological in origin. Thales of Miletus (considered to be the first scientist in the Western world) pondered on the cause of static electricity, and the electric prowess of eels inspired Alessandro Volta to invent the first battery. You and I are alive today because of the bioelectric field that permeates our cells. Although we've evolved from Volta's first fish-inspired battery, the world of bioelectricty still has a lot to offer us. That couldn't be more apparent than in a new study, published this week in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which details the discovery of a new cable bacteria—built from rod-shaped cells attached end to end—on the central Oregon coast. Named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis in honor of the Yaqo'n people on whose ancestral lands the discovery was made, this bacteria is particularly adept at conducting electricity. Because of their rod-shaped bodies, these cells create filaments that can stretch up to several centimeters in length. A rare feature among bacteria, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis's conductivity likely arises from it's optimization of metabolic processes in their environment. 'This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,' Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, said in a press statement. 'It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules.' In other words, it's a bioelectric bacteria on steroids. This could make the bacteria particularly effective in a variety of fields, including medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. However, its most exciting capability is its use as a tool for pollutant remediation. 'These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments,' Li said. 'Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics.' Remediation can be one of the most time-consuming and costly aspects of infrastructure projects—particularly if a former brownfield site hopes to be reclaimed as a park or another public space. Having bacteria that can actively clean up the soil thanks to its electric biology could be a huge boon for environmental efforts. Our understanding of electricity has come along way since Ancient Greece, but the biological world still has more than few electrifying tricks to teach us. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Discovered a Remarkable Lifeform That Conducts Electricity Like a Wire
Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis—a cable bacteria discovered along the coast of Oregon—has the remarkable ability to conduct electricity. According to researchers, this bacteria 'stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential.' This newly discovered bacteria could be ideal for a variety of bioelectric applications, including in the fields of medicine, industry, and environmental remediation (as the bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants). Today, human society is powered by the artificial electricity generated by turbines, nuclear reactors, and photovoltaics. But the very first investigations into the wonders of electricity were biological in origin. Thales of Miletus (considered to be the first scientist in the Western world) pondered on the cause of static electricity, and the electric prowess of eels inspired Alessandro Volta to invent the first battery. You and I are alive today because of the bioelectric field that permeates our cells. Although we've evolved from Volta's first fish-inspired battery, the world of bioelectricty still has a lot to offer us. That couldn't be more apparent than in a new study, published this week in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which details the discovery of a new cable bacteria—built from rod-shaped cells attached end to end—on the central Oregon coast. Named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis in honor of the Yaqo'n people on whose ancestral lands the discovery was made, this bacteria is particularly adept at conducting electricity. Because of their rod-shaped bodies, these cells create filaments that can stretch up to several centimeters in length. A rare feature among bacteria, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis's conductivity likely arises from it's optimization of metabolic processes in their environment. 'This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,' Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the study, said in a press statement. 'It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules.' In other words, it's a bioelectric bacteria on steroids. This could make the bacteria particularly effective in a variety of fields, including medicine, industry, and environmental monitoring. However, its most exciting capability is its use as a tool for pollutant remediation. 'These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments,' Li said. 'Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics.' Remediation can be one of the most time-consuming and costly aspects of infrastructure projects—particularly if a former brownfield site hopes to be reclaimed as a park or another public space. Having bacteria that can actively clean up the soil thanks to its electric biology could be a huge boon for environmental efforts. Our understanding of electricity has come along way since Ancient Greece, but the biological world still has more than few electrifying tricks to teach us. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover a new organism that conducts electricity
Looks like scientists have found a new cousin to the eels! Well, not another eel , but a bacterium that can conduct electricity. And no, it doesn't zap, but it does work like biological wiring hidden in the mud. The findings are published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology . The novel species of bacteria act as electrical wiring, and could hold the potential to develop bioelectronic devices for use in medicine, industry, food safety, and environmental monitoring and cleanup. The researchers discovered the cable bacteria species in a mud flat at the Oregon coast and named it Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis is named in honor of the Native Americans of the region where the species was found. Poll Would you support funding for further research on bioelectronic applications of bacteria? No Yes Cheng Li, who was a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University at the time of the research, and Clare Reimers, distinguished professor emerita in the OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, identified the new species. Provided by Cheng Li The new cable bacteria have rod-shaped cells connected in a line, with a shared outer membrane, forming filaments that can reach several centimeters in length. Though conductivity is unusual among bacteria, this is an adapted process to optimize their metabolic processes in the sediment environments in which they live. The new organism shares similarities with the Ca. Electrothrix genus and the other known cable bacteria genus, Ca. Electronema, in terms of metabolic pathways and genes. 'This new species seems to be a bridge, an early branch within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which suggests it could provide new insights into how these bacteria evolved and how they might function in different environments,' Li said. 'It stands out from all other described cable bacteria species in terms of its metabolic potential, and it has distinctive structural features, including pronounced surface ridges, up to three times wider than those seen in other species, that house highly conductive fibers made of unique, nickel-based molecules.' The fibers are responsible for the bacteria's ability to perform long-distance electron transport, linking oxygen or nitrate at the surface with sulfide deeper in the sediment. This ability to carry out chemical reactions over distance makes them important for sediment chemistry and nutrient cycling. 'These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments. Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics,' Li added. FULL I Big Update On Trump Tariffs; '18 Proposals On Paper. Terms With India...' I Karoline Leavitt Cable bacteria can live in both freshwater and saltwater environments, and also thrive in diverse climatic conditions. The new organism gets its name, Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis from the Yaqona people, whose ancestral lands encompassed Yaquina Bay. Yaqona referred to the bay and river that made up much of their homeland, as well as to the people themselves. representative img 'Naming an ecologically important bacterium after a Tribe recognizes its historical bond with the land and acknowledges its enduring contributions to ecological knowledge and sustainability,' Li further added. (Pic courtesy: Cheng Li)
