It is a common knowledge that bacteria are responsible for many diseases and infections, but they can be put to good use too. Physicists at the Oxford University established through a study that they could serve as an alternative source of power in the nearest future.
Bacteria in their natural state move randomly. Computer simulation of a lattice of 64 symmetric microrotors was created by the researchers and immersed into fluid filled with bacteria. They realized that the bacteria organized themselves spontaneously, resulting in the spinning of the rotors.
Oxford University physicist, Dr Tyler Shendruk, who conducted the study and a co-author of the Paper containing details of the study said:
When we did the simulation with a single rotor in the bacterial turbulence, it just got kicked around randomly, but when we put an array of rotors in the living fluid, they suddenly formed a regular pattern, with neighbouring rotors spinning in opposite directions.
The result of the study led to the conclusion that the random motion of bacteria could be employed to power microscopic “wind farms” or devices such smartphones.
“Nature is brilliant at creating tiny engines, and there is enormous potential if we can understand how to exploit similar designs,” Senior author, Professor Julia Yeomans explained.
Even though the power generated right now is limited and can only be used for micromachines, it is worth looking forward to as smartphone users in regions with erratic or no power supply will be able to heave a sigh of relief at their charging nightmares.
EmoticonEmoticon