'Spacesuits' protect microbes destined to live in space
Monday, October 1, 2018 - 19:40
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have created a unique system that pairs light-absorbing semiconductors with anaerobic bacteria to capture light and fix carbon dioxide: an artificial leaf. The bacteria turn carbon dioxide into chemicals useful in space colonies. One problem is that the process generates reactive oxygen species that kill the bacteria. To shield them from damage, the researchers developed a 'spacesuit' of metal-organic framework (MOF) that extends the microbes' lifetimes to that seen in the wild.