Scientists find new bacteria that survive by breathing electricity, not oxygen

Bacteria That Breathe Electricity (Representative Image: Canva)

When we think of survival, we often picture oxygen. But what if life could thrive without it? Scientists have now discovered bacteria that do just that – and they don’t just survive, they power up. In a fascinating twist of nature, researchers found that these tiny organisms release electricity instead of using oxygen, offering new hope for sustainable technology.

Electricity Instead of Oxygen for Energy

A team from Rice University uncovered bacteria that live differently. Most life forms pass electrons to oxygen inside cells. But these microbes push electrons outside their cells instead. This lets them create energy in places with no oxygen. Such places include deep-sea vents or even the human gut.

This process is called extracellular respiration. It allows the bacteria to send out electrons to nearby surfaces. By doing this, they keep growing and making energy. It’s a clever way to survive when oxygen is missing. These bacteria show how life finds a way, even in tough conditions.

Tiny Natural Couriers Carry the Charge

The bacteria use a natural molecule called naphthoquinone. This acts like a tiny shuttle for electrons inside the cell. It picks them up and carries them out to conductive surfaces nearby. Once there, the electrons are released like power from a battery. This method helps them break down food and stay alive. It’s nature’s own form of electricity transfer.

Naphthoquinones are key to this living battery system. They are simple, but they get the job done. With this technique, bacteria can power themselves without any oxygen at all.

Simulations, Lab Tests Confirm Power Potential

To check this, Rice researchers teamed up with UC San Diego. They used computer models to map the bacteria's activity in oxygen-free zones. The simulations showed that the microbes could grow and generate electricity. Then the team confirmed the same results in the lab. The bacteria survived well and discharged power onto conductive materials.

This shows their energy process is not just theory. It works both in models and in real conditions. The bacteria behave like tiny batteries in action.

Ideas for Clean Energy and Space Tools

This finding may help build better clean energy tools. Bacteria like these could support wastewater plants or green factories. They could help manage how electrons move through systems. This could boost efficiency in many eco-friendly industries.

They may also help capture carbon dioxide using power from renewables. This process would work like how plants use sunlight. With further tweaks, these bacteria could even help with climate change work.

Because they work without oxygen, they could also help in space. Engineers may use them in sensors for deep-space missions. Their power system could run electronics where oxygen cannot reach. They might also help build medical or pollution detectors in extreme places.

Nature Offers Tools for the Future

This new finding reminds us how clever life can be. Bacteria with electric power show us fresh ways to think about energy. They could soon play a role in making clean, smart, and lasting systems. With more study, they might help us build a better future, one charge at a time.