Microbial fuel cells, as they're called, have been around for more than 100 years. They work a little like a battery, with an anode, cathode and electrolyte – but rather than drawing electricity from ...

Biodegradable waste from plant and animal sources released into freshwater ecosystems is a significant environmental concern. Nonetheless, current methods for assessing water quality seem more or less ...

When nature designed lignin — the fibrous, woody material that gives plants their rigid structure — it didn’t cut any corners. Incredibly slow to break down, lignin is so sturdy and long lasting that ...

Currently, microbial fuel cells are primarily used to produce electricity in research labs. The fuel cells need to be improved so that they can consistently produce higher amounts of electricity than ...

The fuel cell's 3D printed cap peeks above the ground. The cap keeps debris out of the device while enabling air flow. New fuel cell harnesses naturally occurring microbes to generate electricity Soil ...

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – A new system that aims to get the most out of microbes in terms of electricity generation and wastewater treatment has been developed by two researchers at Idaho State ...

With growing populations, climate change, and high levels of consumption, many areas of the world can expect to face water shortages by 2050. The majority of freshwater on earth is used for ...

This article was taken from the November 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by ...

Batteries hold toxic, flammable chemicals that leach into the ground, are fraught with conflict-filled supply chains and contribute to the ever-growing problem of electronic waste. George Wells, ...