Nanotube-Excreting Bacteria Allow Mass Production

Invisible Pink Unicorn writes "Engineers at the University of California, Riverside have found semiconducting nanotubes produced by living bacteria — a discovery that could help in the creation of a new generation of nanoelectronic devices. This is the first time nanotubes have been shown to be produced by biological rather than chemical means. In a process that is not yet fully understood, the bacterium secretes polysacarides that seem to produce the template for the arsenic-sulfide nanotubes. These nanotubes behave as metals with electrical and photoconductive properties useful in nanoelectronics. The article abstract is available from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

more like a series of tubes

[User 956]

In a process that is not yet fully understood, the bacterium secretes polysacarides that seem to produce the template for the arsenic-sulfide nanotubes.

Yes, well, at least they've been proven to not be a truck.

Awesome...

[__aaclcg7560]

A new process to create a multi-core CPU and beer at the same time!

I keeeeeeel him

[Hognoxious]

The son of a camel [slashdot.org] who wrote this article has taken the name of the sacred one(BBHHH) in vain! One hundred lashes is not too many!

Owwie!

[mbstone]

It must really hurt to excrete a nanotube. Maybe some nanoprunes would help.

Re:If they sh*t it, they eat it...

[hyades1]

This phenomenon is well-known, and has frequently been described in scientific literature under the term "Politicojournalistivorism".

Re:arsenic-sulphide?

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone knows not to mix e-waste with normal garbage, so it doesn't end up in landfills.

Re:If they sh*t it, they eat it...

[hanshotfirst]

Furthermore, should the need arise, I'm sure stuff made from carbon nanotubes can be made resistant to consumption by organisms for its expected lifetime just as for example a wooden ship, or a sheet of paper, or food, or whatever, can.

Unless you own a Labrador retriever. Trust me, they'll eat anything. Mine has an affinity for checkbook registers, including the vinyl cover.

I'm still working on it ...

[ScrewMaster]

I've been trying to train myself to excrete nanotubes, but so far all I've gotten are macrorods.

Correction to dept.

[callmevinny]

building-tech-from-the-bottom-up

Arsenic sulfide?

[perbert]

It is just me, or is there irony in the fact that the nanopoop is AsS?