Bacteria farm yields thermoelectric paper

Bacteria can grow cellulose films for generating electricity from waste heat when they’re cultured in media containing carbon nanotubes, new research shows. Mariano Campoy-Quiles of the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona, Spain, who led the work, describes it as a shift from manufacturing materials to farming them. ‘The fact that bacteria make the film, and not a scientist, is utterly remarkable … This work might be a humble first step into the world of do-it-yourself advanced energy materials,’ he adds.