Buzz
Size is irrelevant. Microscopic bacteria possess the potential to drive humanity to extinction. While the world remains calm and plagues are kept at bay, scientists have developed a newfound fascination with these tiny organisms.
Recent research has uncovered the bizarre abilities of bacteria, such as generating clean energy, producing gold, and unraveling quantum mysteries. However, their capabilities don’t end there. They appear in unexpected places, perform surprising feats, and demonstrate remarkable adaptability, even merging seamlessly with technology to survive.
10. A Novel Source of Ocean Nutrition
A 2018 study on deep-sea bacteria revealed astonishing findings. Discovered in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), these organisms thrived approximately 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) below the surface. At such depths, it was previously assumed that the only sustenance available was organic debris like dead fish, plankton, and other matter that drifted down to the ocean floor.
Contrary to discoveries in the North Atlantic Ocean, bacteria in this eastern region of the Pacific Ocean were the primary consumers of organic debris, not seafloor-dwelling creatures. These bacteria also incorporated large quantities of carbon dioxide into their biomass through a process that remains a mystery to scientists.
While this finding was astonishing, its implications extended beyond peculiar biological processes. This biomass likely serves as a food source for deep-sea organisms in areas previously believed to lack additional nourishment.
Remarkably, this process converts harmful CO2 into a valuable food source. Estimates suggest that these bacteria could sustain the entire Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) and potentially recycle up to 200 million tons of CO2 annually.
9. A Renewable Energy Resource
Sewage from households and wastewater from industrial facilities are abundant sources of energy. They contain organic compounds ideal for generating clean energy. However, finding a cost-effective and efficient extraction method proved challenging—until purple bacteria came into the picture.
In 2018, these phototropic organisms, which harness energy from light, were utilized for the first time to process waste. Unlike traditional water treatment plants, the bacteria operated using light, produced zero carbon emissions, and were economically viable.
This sustainable biorefinery system recovers nearly 100 percent of carbon from any type of organic waste. Moreover, the process generates hydrogen gas, making it an excellent solution for electricity production.
The key lies in the bacteria’s unique metabolism. Instead of relying on CO2 and H2O, they utilize organic molecules, making organic waste an ideal energy source. During photosynthesis, they extract carbon, nitrogen, and electrons efficiently.
The byproducts vary, including proteins, hydrogen gas, and biodegradable polyester. Researchers have also discovered a method to accelerate the process by applying an electrical current to the purple bacteria, which are rich in metabolic electrons.
8. The Tragic Fate of the Titanic
The ill-fated RMS Titanic sank in 1912 and remained lost for more than seven decades until its wreckage was discovered 530 kilometers (329 mi) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada.
In 2010, an expedition uncovered a troubling discovery. While studying the Titanic, researchers identified a new bacterial species. Named Halomonas titanicae in tribute to the ship, the irony lies in the fact that these bacteria were actively consuming the remains of the Titanic.
H. titanicae thrives on rust, which is essentially what the ship has been reduced to. The bacteria are feasting on the corroded metal, turning the wreck into a lifelong banquet for these microscopic destroyers.
The fragile remains of the iconic ship lie on the ocean floor, over 3.8 kilometers (2.4 mi) deep, making recovery impossible. The rapid deterioration also rules out any chance of preservation.
On the bright side, the bacteria’s relentless consumption of rust could be harnessed to dismantle decommissioned ships, oil rigs, and other oceanic structures. Additionally, it could aid in creating antibacterial coatings for operational equipment. Unfortunately, researchers predict the Titanic may completely disintegrate within the next two decades.
7. Bacteria in the Brain
The brain is traditionally regarded as a sterile environment. Medical professionals recognize that the presence of bacteria among its folds and neurons indicates disease. In 2018, scientists analyzed 34 brain samples, initially aiming to compare the brains of schizophrenia patients with those of healthy individuals.
Unexpectedly, high-resolution images revealed mysterious rod-shaped structures throughout the samples. These turned out to be bacteria. If these organisms are naturally present in the brain, it would revolutionize our understanding of neurology.
Researchers confirmed the brains were healthy and found no evidence of bacterial infection. This raised the possibility of contamination after death. Further tests on uncontaminated mouse brains showed bacteria gathering in the same areas as those observed in the human samples.
DNA analysis revealed a significant clue—the bacteria belonged to Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, types commonly found in the human gut. While the gut-brain connection is well-documented, such a direct link had never been established. Despite this, the role of these brain bacteria remains a mystery.
6. Intense Nasal Conflicts
Within the noses of mice, bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae reside. While typically harmless, these microbes can cause life-threatening conditions like pneumonia and meningitis, actions that also lead to their own demise.
To uncover why S. pneumoniae would engage in such self-destructive behavior, scientists studied the nasal cavities of mice and discovered that this bacterium wasn’t the only one thriving in the moist environment. Occasionally, Haemophilus influenzae attempts to invade. The two species are natural enemies, and their encounters spark intense battles.
H. influenzae manipulates the host’s immune system to launch white blood cells against its rival. This tactic is so effective that S. pneumoniae is sometimes entirely eradicated from the nose. However, when S. pneumoniae retaliates, the host suffers the consequences.
S. pneumoniae possesses a protective sugary coating, with 90 different variants. The more robust types can resist white blood cells, infiltrate the immune system and tissues, and ultimately cause illness. It’s likely that similar bacterial rivalries occur in human noses, suggesting that many diseases are not direct attacks on the host but rather collateral damage from bacterial warfare.
5. Electrifying Fungi
In 2018, a laboratory in New Jersey aimed to develop a sustainable energy solution. Researchers focused on the common button mushroom, an abundant fungus, combined with cyanobacteria and carbon atoms. The carbon atoms formed electrodes using thin layers of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs).
The selection of mushrooms, bacteria, and atoms was deliberate. Cyanobacteria generate photosynthetic energy, while GNRs efficiently conduct electricity. The mushrooms offered a natural habitat for the bacteria, providing moisture and nutrients unmatched by synthetic surfaces. Using 3-D printing, the GNRs and bacteria were embedded onto the mushroom, creating a symbiotic system.
The experiment succeeded. The unique arrangement of carbon atoms and bacteria enabled them to interact as a stable network. When exposed to light, the bacteria generated an electric current, which the GNRs conducted into wires designed to capture the energy.
Currently, the mushrooms produce only a faint current. However, future improvements could lead to powerful bionic fungi, offering a renewable and eco-friendly energy source.
4. Rising Threat of Plague
The bubonic plague was so catastrophic that it earned the name Black Death. During the 14th and 15th centuries, this deadly bacterium claimed the lives of up to 200 million people across Europe.
Today, experts are growing increasingly concerned that climate change could trigger another outbreak. This concern is not unfounded. Permafrost can preserve bacteria indefinitely, including some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens. When these frozen microbes thaw, they re-enter the environment with potentially devastating consequences.
This scenario became a grim reality in 2016 when melting ice in Siberia released anthrax. The incident infected over 40 people, claimed the life of a child, and resulted in the death of 1,500 reindeer. The Paris Agreement, a global environmental effort, aims to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 °F). However, some scientists doubt the feasibility of this goal.
The potential consequences are alarming. When the Black Plague emerged in the 1340s, a 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 °F) rise in global temperatures allowed the deadly Yersinia pestis bacterium to thrive. If history repeats itself, thawing permafrost could unleash not only the Black Death but also other global pandemics.
3. They Enter the Quantum Realm
In 2018, researchers sought to determine the boundary between the quantum realm and the macroscopic world. Quantum physics governs the behavior of extremely small entities like particles, while larger entities, such as humans and bacteria, operate under classical physics.
It is widely assumed that quantum effects diminish as they transition into the larger world. To challenge this notion, scientists revisited a 2016 experiment conducted at the University of Sheffield.
In the experiment, bacteria were placed in a chamber of mirrors and exposed to a specific light frequency. A small number of organisms exhibited quantum effects, demonstrating a weak interaction between their photosynthetic molecules and the light’s electrons—a phenomenon known as quantum coupling.
The 2018 review suggested that the bacteria may have performed far better than initially observed in the Sheffield study. Subsequent experiments revealed evidence of entanglement, a significant quantum effect previously undocumented in living organisms.
Entanglement is a fascinating phenomenon where two entities synchronize their states, even when separated by vast distances. A compelling theory suggests that bacteria may have evolved to interact with the quantum realm, potentially gaining undiscovered advantages.
2. They Generate Pure Gold
Cupriavidus metallidurans is an extraordinary bacterium. It consumes toxic metals and excretes gold. First identified in 2009, it took scientists until 2018 to unravel the mystery behind this metallic transformation.
Unlike most living organisms, C. metallidurans flourishes in soil rich with toxic heavy metals. The bacterium is encased by two membranes, with a space between them called the periplasm, which functions as a natural detoxification zone.
Typically, the periplasm stores surplus copper, which is essential for the bacteria’s metabolic processes but lethal in excess. A recent study revealed that a specialized enzyme (CupA) safely channels excess copper into the periplasm, preventing toxicity.
Gold poses an even greater threat. When the bacteria encounter gold ions—an unstable form of the metal—they face significant harm. These ions can interfere with the copper detoxification mechanism.
Interestingly, researchers discovered that the bacteria produce another enzyme (CopA) to address this issue. CopA converts the ions into stable gold particles within the periplasm. Once the periplasm is full, the outer membrane ruptures, releasing tiny gold nuggets, some as large as grains of sand.
1. Biological Tattoos
In 2017, MIT embarked on a 3-D printing project using bacterial cells, resulting in one of the most fascinating innovations involving bacteria—living tattoos. The final product resembled a tree design or the intricate patterns of electronic circuits.
Bacterial cells were selected for their resilience compared to mammalian cells, enabling them to endure the printing process. They were also compatible with hydrogels, a key component for creating the tattoo.
First, the bacteria were genetically modified to emit various fluorescent colors. Next, an ink was developed containing hydrogel, the bacterial cells, and nutrients to sustain them. This ink was precise enough for high-resolution printing at 0.03 millimeters. Researchers printed a tree pattern on elastomer, which was then applied to a volunteer’s skin treated with specific chemicals.
As designed, the bacteria glowed and became visible upon contact with the chemicals. A long-term goal is to develop wearable patches that can gradually release medications, such as glucose, into a patient’s system over time.
