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A Round of Applause for the Gonorrhea-Based Molecular Machine
Posted by Benny Goldman at 11:00 AM on April 22, 2008
Gonorrhea isn't just an STD known for causing burning sensations when you pee; it's the strongest organism known to man. Able to pull 100,000 times its body weight, the clap may soon serve a purpose greater than painfully reminding you of nights spent cruising the Red Light District. Scientists hope to use gonorrhea bacteria in nanotech devices because of the strong forces they can exert on nearby objects. In the clip above, gonorrhea is using pili filaments it produces, which are 10 times longer than the bacterium itself, to pull tiny columns.
Gonorrhea isn't just an STD known for causing burning sensations when you pee; it's the strongest organism known to man. Able to pull 100,000 times its body weight, the clap may soon serve a purpose greater than painfully reminding you of nights spent cruising the Red Light District. Scientists hope to use gonorrhea bacteria in nanotech devices because of the strong forces they can exert on nearby objects. In the clip above, gonorrhea is using pili filaments it produces, which are 10 times longer than the bacterium itself, to pull tiny columns.
The process isn't perfect yet; in testing, only one pull in a hundred was able to reach 100,000 times the weight of the bacterium. If the scientists are able to improve the consistency, the days of molecular machines driven by gonorrhea could be near. However, this is still no excuse to spread your VD in the name of science, so take care of that already. [New Scientist via io9, song by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ittekimasu
Posted 11:20 AM 22/4/08
looked like that they were getting it on! but i'm pretty twisted so it was probably just me that saw it >.>
ittekimasu
Babysealclubber
Posted 11:14 AM 22/4/08
They Might Be Giants? What song is that?
Babysealclubber
theimmc
Posted 1:18 PM 22/4/08
Imagine the potential, sex toys powered by the gonnorhea bacteria.
theimmc
Pepper
Posted 1:31 PM 22/4/08
so cell phones don't give you cancer anymore? they give you Gonnorhea?
Pepper
Barfolemew
Posted 2:28 PM 22/4/08
Ok, I have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing. I saw a white blob and a bunch of grey blobs... That's it.
Barfolemew
blindaxs
Posted 3:06 PM 22/4/08
New level virus, now with your favorite electronics! Get STD's while you play with your Ipod...
blindaxs
danger_the_pirate
Posted 3:32 PM 22/4/08
@danger_the_pirate: oops, just artist. honest bob and the factory-to-dealer incentives.
danger_the_pirate
danger_the_pirate
Posted 3:31 PM 22/4/08
@Babysealclubber: its not tmbg, check the via for song name and artist.
danger_the_pirate
aR-Tard
Posted 3:23 PM 22/4/08
I'd gladly let gonorrhea power my new Asus EEE (that is, if I ever buy one).
aR-Tard
Rexter
Posted 8:06 PM 22/4/08
I have no idea what was going on in that vid. But gonorrhea the strongest organism known to man? who knew?...
Rexter
Walter
Posted 8:05 PM 22/4/08
that was perhaps the most exciting thing i have seen all day
Walter
Barion
Posted 9:28 PM 22/4/08
I can already imagine the comic book superhero...Clap Man, with the proportional strength of gonorrhea, able to lift 10,000 tons, was infected by a radioactive backalley hooker and now fights crime with his super strength and nuclear urine!
Barion
theespacepope
Posted 10:22 PM 22/4/08
That video illustrated that some glob could shake some little circles. Amazing.
theespacepope
Geisrud
Posted 11:02 PM 22/4/08
Anyone else think it's a bad idea to intentionally put gonorrhea into various gadgets?
Geisrud
ecobore
Posted 10:37 PM 22/4/08
Yeah, I always found I could pull more effectively when loaded with Gonorrhea!
ecobore
Angus
Posted 11:08 PM 22/4/08
wasnt this the plot for I am Legend?
Angus
maven2k
Posted 2:13 AM 23/4/08
I think I got that optical illusion in my email last week. You are supposed to focus on the center and move your head closer and farther away and it moves.
maven2k
SSRPaulO
Posted 8:10 AM 23/4/08
My iPod is infected.... No wait, that's just an Emo song.
SSRPaulO
Daniel_Voegelin
Posted 1:55 PM 22/4/08
If computers and electronics start using components filled with gonorrhea, that's it. I'm done.
Daniel_Voegelin