VocaPeople

This is making the rounds of perpetually forwarded emails. I don't think it's as stunning as some folks say (the emails say "NO INSTRUMENTS! JUST HUMAN VOICES!", but it's fun.

Somebody has WAY too much time on their hands.

MIT geeks create a virus that makes a battery

Not kidding. From EcoGeek.org:

Those crazy lab rats at MIT are attempting to radically diminish the cost of producing sophisticated nanotech cathodes and anodes by enlisting viruses to do the hard work for them. ...

The team at MIT genetically engineered viruses to excrete certain proteins. Those proteins then react with chemicals introduced to the environment to create complicated structures. Proteins are very good at directing compounds to create complicated structures...like life forms.

The viruses, in effect, pull the needed compounds (gold and cobalt for the anode and iron phosphate and carbon for the cathode) into nanowires....

Unless EcoGeek is twisting the truth (how would I know?), this sounds closer to reality than one might think. Go read the post, if you wish.

We've all wanted to do this.

(Click to enlarge)