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New 'Cable Bacterium' Discovered: Nature's Living Wire

5/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled Candidatus Electrothrix yaqonensis, a remarkable bacterium found in Oregon's Yaquina Bay that conducts electricity like a living wire. With its unique nickel-based fibers and long filaments, this "cable bacterium" holds promise for environmental cleanup and bioelectronics, shedding light on microbial evolution and ecological dynamics.

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Story summary

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled Candidatus Electrothrix yaqonensis, a remarkable bacterium found in Oregon's Yaquina Bay that conducts electricity like a living wire. With its unique nickel-based fibers and long filaments, this "cable bacterium" holds promise for environmental cleanup and bioelectronics, shedding light on microbial evolution and ecological dynamics.