Harnessing Evaporation through Minuscule Bacterial Spores

Scientists at Columbia University developed a unique method for harnessing natural sources of energy.

The researchers used tiny bacterial spores to kick-start an energy transfer process that, “on a grand scale, is a hugely important factor in the planet’s climate and weather-namely, evaporation,” according to The New York Times’ Science Take series.

Here’s how the process works: To control evaporation, the team manipulated the bacteria to expand and contract in a manner similar to muscles. Ultimately, they were able to string these microns together and power devices like a toy car.

You can watch the video below to learn how this project got started and what its future looks like.