A new species of bacteria (Halanaerobium hydrogeninformans) producing hydrogen has been discovered.
Biologist Melanie Mormila managed to discover a new kind of bacteria. Halanaerobium hydrogeninformans was found in Soap Lake in Washington state. This bacterium is said to live in extreme lake conditions with high salt and pH levels, making it an extremophile.
Extremophiles are living things (including bacteria and microorganisms) that can live and reproduce in extreme environmental conditions.
At the moment, the biologist has found that a new species of bacteria is capable of producing hydrogen from sugars obtained from cellulose. Mormile and her colleagues at the University of Missouri Science and Technology have already received a number of patents for their discovery.
In the future, scientists will try to find the use of Halanaerobium hydrogeninformans in the industrial production of hydrogen, which is a promising alternative to natural hydrocarbons.
More information on the results of Melanie Mormile's research can be found in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.