Sir: Since the day they were first discovered, bacteria have been getting a great deal of bad press. But recently, Derek Lovley, a renowned microbiologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and his colleagues have developed a ‘fuel cell’ that can convert organic material into electricity. These fuel cells are powered by an unusual specie of bacteria named as Rhodoferax. Now, like every ordinary bacteria or living organism, Rhodoferax works by robbing the electrons of the sugars present in organic matter. In the deep pits of soil, where this bacterium is found, iron oxides are usually present to take up the electrons stripped off from the sugars. Unlike other bacteria, it allows electrons to move across its cell membrane instead of keeping them trapped inside. Researchers found out that the same phenomenon can be harnessed for use in bio-batteries. Making use of this intrinsic behaviour, scientists used graphite electrodes that are similar in function to iron oxides, to yield electricity. Now if you are imagining huge power stations producing tremendous amount of electric power, solely by utilising microorganisms and all such blissful thoughts, then forgive my insensitivity for I might have to pop your bubble. For now, these batteries are designed to power calculators and handy equipment only because of the hindrance faced due to slow speed of electron flow. However the future holds great promises because according to researchers this hindrance too can be considerably increased by using better electrodes and increasing their surface area. MARIYA SHUJAH Via Email