Transcript:

Electric BacteriaAmbience: Gentle WavesNealson: These bacteria were discovered about thirty years ago. And they have the endearing capacity that if you give them something to eat, they will convert it into electric energy. Yes, certain bacteria can produce electricity. But what would be the best use of this phenomenon? I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet. Ken Nealson is a Wrigley professor in the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California.Nealson: The real value of these organisms is that we could use them to clean up polluted water bodies. We could use them to clean up industrial waste or human waste. And we shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking they are going to make a lot of energy. These things that we use could be called fuel cells, but really the beauty of them is that we can make a device that will clean up human waste and doesn't have to be plugged in. So they make enough energy to run themselves. And that changes the world a little bit. Right now, there are projects going on at public restrooms in parts of Mexico where there's very little infrastructure for electricity. And wouldn't it be nice if you could make a little bit of energy that might power a computer, by the human waste that's there, and not dump your waste in the river. And make it dangerous for the people downstream? These bacteria will take every electron they can get out of that waste water; they'll take all the energy and convert it all to water. And this is huge because some day our waste systems in big cities will be using this method. Not because it produces energy, but because it doesn't produce any sewage sludge. There's nothing left after this happens. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.