Bacteria generate ’blue energy’
A group of students at the University of Groningen are developing a revolutionary membrane for generating ‘blue energy’, electricity created from the ‘collision’ between salt water and fresh water. Currently, artificial membranes are used for this, but these break quickly and are expensive. The students are attempting to make a membrane from bacteria. The group will be competing in Boston this September in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, where 280 student teams will present biological machines they have developed themselves. The Groningen students are seeking support for their project via the special crowdfunding website www.studenten.rugsteunt.nl .
The weekly online video magazine Unifocus highlights topics related to the University of Groningen in the fields of research and society, student life, teaching, policy and internationalization.
| Last modified: | 16 January 2025 2.13 p.m. |
More news
-
10 September 2025
Funding for Feringa and Minnaard from National Growth Fund project Big Chemistry
Two UG research projects have received funding from the National Growth Fund project Big Chemistry via NWO.
-
09 September 2025
The carbon cycle as Earth’s thermostat
Earth's natural carbon cycle becomes unbalanced if we, humans, continue to release extra carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. In this overview article about the carbon cycle, you can find out how Earth generally keeps itself in balance and how...
-
09 September 2025
Carbon dioxide’s fingerprint
In the year 2000, Harro Meijer, Professor of Isotope Physics at the University of Groningen, set up the Lutjewad Measurement Station near Hornhuizen. There, researchers from Groningen are mapping where CO2 in the atmosphere originates and where it...