Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Deep Breathing

Soil is electric!

To gain energy, soil microorganisms take electrons from compounds in soil organic matter and combine them with oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or other elements. This is how they respire or “breathe.” Humans use only oxygen.

Can microbe-power generate electricity? Scientists have created small “microbial” batteries in wet soils. Instead of combining electrons with oxygen, the microbes are loading electrons onto a platinum or gold wire. Microbial fuel cells in soil may be next.

Geobacter growing on wire electrodes

© Derek Lovley, Kelly Nevin & Ben Barnhart, University of Massachusetts