Power from magnetic bacteria

Here's an interesting and potentially important invention. And it's doubly heart-warming because of the age of the inventor and the way it was discovered.

Madiraju put the free-floating bacteria, which are essentially tiny magnets, into plastic boxes less than a fifth of a cubic inch. Metal strips on two sides act as electrodes and get them spinning, generating a magnetic field and an electric current. Current and power were sustained at 25 microamps and 5.5 microwatts, respectively, beyond 48 hours at a resistance of 10 kohms.

Wired News: Power Up With Magnetic Bacteria: Filed in: electricity, generation, bacteria