Shocking Discovery: Scientists Discover Organism That Act Like Living Electrical Wires

**Scientists identified a new electrically conductive bacterium,** ***Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis*****, with potential applications in pollution cleanup and bioelectronics.**

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown species of bacteria capable of conducting electricity, potentially paving the way for innovative bioelectronic technologies. These applications could span fields such as medicine, industrial manufacturing, food safety, and environmental monitoring and remediation…

The new species features metabolic pathways and genes that are a mix of the Ca. Electrothrix genus and the other known cable bacteria genus, Ca. Electronema.

“These bacteria can transfer electrons to clean up pollutants, so they could be used to remove harmful substances from sediments,” Li said. “Also, their design of a highly conductive nickel protein can possibly inspire new bioelectronics.”