Haynes.tv

Modern technology appears to have no limits. Microsoft comes out with a new version of Windows every year. Monitors are as thick as a piece of paper. Hard drives double their memory every day. However, there are a few drawbacks. Computers take up a noticeable amount of space, and as our bodies expand, we will need that extra space. Although the greatest drawback to modern computers is the fact they are simple pieces of metal; they are not living organisms. After all, we could use the extra food and oxygen living computers would produce. But don’t worry, modern science has found the answers to these all problems, plus our radioactive waste disposal needs.

Researchers headed by Derek Lovley at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a microorganism that is highly electrically conductive. The organism named Geobacter was discovered on the bottom of the Potomac in 1987 by Lovely. Geobacter has already lived a career as a garbage disposal. Since its discovery Geobacter has been used to eliminate petroleum spills, landfill pollution of groundwater, and uranium waste. However, Geobacter is destined for more roles and greater importance in future technology. Geobacter can grow tails called pili, which can be used as a nanowires 3-5 nanometers in length. The nanowires are essential to creating nanodevices. Furthermore, by altering the genes of the organism many different tails can be created with different qualities and functions. However, the organism itself may be very useful. Geobacter can eat pollutants and convert human and animal waste as well as bio fuel into electricity. This electricity can be manipulated to make the organism itself a switch, creating the basis for a bionanocomputer. With the aid of these nanowires and Geobacter’s electrical capabilities, we may finally be able to create computers smaller than their mice, and cellphones we can lose in our ears. Thank you Mr. Scientist.