Bacteria Power May Be Key Energy Source For Space Robots

Be careful not to dose these bacteria with antibiotics. Scientists have experimented with energy-producing bacteria for about a century now, but applications of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology are just beginning to blossom. According to the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), NASA is hoping to use MFCs to power small devices, including 'microrovers,' for use in space.

 MFCs work by capturing the ions that bacteria leave behind when they eat, and then running the ions through a resistor to convert them to electricity.

A 1-kilogram prototype microrover was developed by Dr. Gregory P. Scott, a spacecraft engineer at the the NRL who received a grant from NASA to conduct his research. Scott says the work has "a long-term potential for space and robotic applications."