Microscopic Solutions

SUMMERY
Professor Willy Verstraete and his team of biologists have found new uses for microbes and bacteria. On of these new fuctions of his bacteria uses an anerobic digestion reactor that generates as much energy as 25 wind turbines. The reactor uses a consortium of methanogenic (methane-creating) bacteria to filter waste and energy crops to produce biogas (methane and carbon) which is made to energy by a turbine. Verstraete had also created nanosilver particles using silver ions by means of the bacteria Lactobacillus. These particles can possibly help to cure influenza and other diseases. The team also isolated Desulphitobacterium dichloroeleminans that can be injected into the ground water to decontaminate chlorinated waste like chlorinated alkanes (the most common contaminants of soil and groundwater). Microbes and bacteria aren't only bad, if altered or isolated many kinds can be helpful.

OPINION
I've always known that certain bacterias could be used as filters for contaminants or as cures for disease, but I had no idea they could be used to create energy. I hope that in the future this new resourse is utilized. I was a little disappointed with the way the article was written. It doesn't specify how this bacteria is used, or how common it is. If it's difficult to isolate this strain of bacteria, I can understand if this process isn't used as often, but if it's easily accessed I'll be deeply disappointed with society if we don't jump on this chance. With more information, I could research more on the specifics, but the article was very vague. Still, very interesting.
Brittany Burns
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/10/13/microscopic_solutions_to_worlds_biggest_problems.html