Microbial nanowires, OmcZ filaments and Borgs:
Picture drawn by DALL-E to the prompt "Microbial nanowires and OmcZ filaments on Bacteria" What are nanowires? Microbial nanowires are specialized structures produced by certain types of bacteria, most notably a species known as Geobacter sulfurreducens. These nanowires are essentially tiny conductive filaments, capable of transmitting electrical currents. They play a significant role in the bacteria's metabolism and environmental interactions. Geobacter sulfurreducens and other similar bacteria are anaerobic, which means they do not require oxygen to live and grow. These bacteria are often found in environments such as soil and sediments where oxygen may be limited or absent. To survive in these conditions, they utilize a process called extracellular electron transfer (EET), where they transfer electrons to external acceptors when oxygen is not available. This process is critical for these bacteria to dispose of excess electrons generated during their met...