Dawn of the bioelectronic 'cellborg'
Remember this day folks 'cause as far as we can tell, scientists at the University of Nebraska are the first to successfully build a bioelectronic device from a living microorganism. Their humidity sensor came to life by depositing bacteria coated with gold nanoparticles onto a standard silicon chip inlaid with gold electrodes. The living bacteria swell and contract across the electrodes in response to humidity resulting in a measurable change in the flow of an applied electrical current. The bacteria can survive in this way for about two days yet continue to work all zombie-like for up to a month after their death. Researches envision the day when carbonaceous ingesting microbes replace batteries to power our circuits. One small step for man, one giant leap towards bacterial assimilation.
[Via Slashdot]
