Bacteria Generate Electricity From Consuming Methane!

Generating power while purifying the greenhouse gases around us could be achievable with the help of bacteria!

Microbiologists from Radboud University have demonstrated that it is possible to generate and make electricity using methane-consuming bacteria. This was tested out in the University’s lab. This study was published in many science magazines on April 12.

The bacteria’s name is Candidatus Methanoperedens. These bacteria use methane to grow and survive in their daily life. These methane-eating bacteria thrive in places where there is contaminated water. In the Netherlands, these bacteria thrive in water locations that are contaminated with nitrogen. These bacteria require nitrogen to break down methane. Without nitrogen, they can’t break down methane.

With these bacteria, it is possible to use them to generate electricity for our own needs. Instead of using power stations, we could replace them with so many of these bacteria to power towns to big cities! We would be able to get our needs using renewable sources. While we use electricity for ourselves, we would be helping to save our Mother Earth as well with the help of these methane-consuming bacteria.

Remember: Methane is a very potent Greenhouse Gas which is 10x better than warming up our earth than Carbon Dioxide. This means that methane has a faster effect on Global Warming. With the help of these bacteria, we can reduce the amount of methane on earth and stop methane pollution! Heatwaves are caused by these kinds of gases! Methane is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases out there! Just remember this point!

Let’s hope that we start using these methane-eating bacteria for electricity and our own needs worldwide to make our beloved earth a better place to live for future generations to come!

Author: Sri Nihal Tammana

Source: Radboud University Nijmegen