Not nano-beer, mega-beer! Image source.

Beer. It’s one of humanity’s finest inventions and is the topic of several blogs on its own. There is a lot that beer can teach us. For example, recently a group of hard working scientists invented a new way to brew batches of nanoparticles that is reminiscent of beer brewing. For those of you not familiar with the beer making process, you start by boiling grains and hops in water to create a sugary liquid called wort. After removing the solids, you add the fungus yeast to the wort. As the beer ferments the yeast break down the sugars and create alcohol and carbon dioxide. Once the yeast is finished, it settles out, is separated and we have the glorious final product that is beer.

Enter the fine scientists working over at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Fun fact: this same facility was originally founded as part of the Manhattan Project). They, along with their Korean collaborators, have come up with a way to allow bacteria to create nanoparticles by breaking down larger materials. Scientists have known for years that some types of bacteria are able to release chemicals which can break down metals and turn them into a usable form for the organism, but this is a bit different.  This new synthesis takes a similar biological process to a new level by using it to create very specific varieties of nanoparticles with multiple potential industrial applications. Continue reading →