Engineered Virus Harnesses Light To Split Water: Scientific American Podcast If this lab could find a way to use a cheaper catalyst as said in the article I would really like this to be part of the future. It is amazing and almost scary to think about engineering viruses. Would you blades like to see this implemented into clean energy resources? Know something similar to this or even better? I'd like to know.
I'm constantly coming across the use of microorganisms in cleaner chemistry. They're great. Although it's not a virus, I have one example that comes to mind. In the last few years a new cheaper way to make a key precursor to Lipitor was forumalated. They are using 3 enzymes that were refined through 'forced evolution' in E. coli bacteria. The catalytical reaction will lead to a huge decrease in waste products and energy requirements when the synthesis is implemented. Lipitor is losing its patent soon though, so no doubt a new brand name cholesterol management pill will take it's place and boring old Atorvastatin will be forgotten. Here you go - 2006 Greener Reaction Conditions Award | Green Chemistry | US EPA If these guys can seriously pull off a catalytic water splitting reaction, they're going to make a tonne of money. Hope they find a way.
Well this virus will mutate and start to attack living organisms. According to me this is a great discovery. The use of the virus make the system assemble itself improves the efficiency of the oxygen. The researchers are finding similar biologically based system that perform the other half of the process, the production of hydrogen.