NASA Energy Conversion Mechanism

Discover how Shewanella bacteria transform organic waste into clean, sustainable electricity for NASA's space missions

Energy Conversion Process

🍃

Organic Input

Waste materials like lactate, acetate, and formate enter the biological system through specialized membrane channels

⚙️

Metabolic Processing

Internal cellular machinery breaks down organic compounds, releasing electrons through controlled oxidation reactions

🔗

Electron Highway

Specialized protein networks create conductive pathways, efficiently transporting electrons to external collectors

⚡

Power Generation

Continuous electrical current flows through external circuits, providing clean energy for various applications

⚡
Energy Level: 65%

Chemical Reactions

Click on any reaction to see detailed visualization

Primary Oxidation:
CH₃CHOHCOO⁻ + 3H₂O → CH₃COO⁻ + HCO₃⁻ + 4H⁺ + 4ē
Lactate molecules are oxidized, releasing electrons for energy generation
Oxygen Reduction:
O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4ē → 2H₂O
Oxygen accepts electrons, completing the electrochemical circuit
Net Energy Production:
Organic Waste + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + Electrical Energy
Overall conversion of waste materials into clean, usable electricity
🌙

Dark Environment Operation

Functions efficiently without sunlight, making it ideal for underwater, underground, and space applications

♻️

Waste-to-Energy

Converts organic waste materials into valuable electrical energy, providing dual environmental benefits

🔄

Continuous Power

Generates electricity 24/7 as long as organic fuel is available, ensuring reliable energy supply

🧬

Biological Efficiency

Utilizes millions of years of evolutionary optimization for maximum energy conversion efficiency