Every living object generates some kind of electricity. Humans produce electrical energy which is used to keep the blood flow to the heart in a normal state.

Now scientists are exploring how certain types of bacteria can give off electricity. Also, they have discovered a mechanism for the benefit of humans.

Bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis lives in oxygen-free environment and scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of East Anglia in England have found out that this bacteria sticking through their its walls releases excess electricity through microscopic “wires”.

It might be possible to design electrodes with contacts that can pick up the charges, as scientists draw the exact structure of the bacteria.

“We should be able to use this research to generate more electricity from the bacteria,” lead author Tom Clarke told Washington Post.

“Now we have an outline of what the battery looks like. But until now it’s been a bit like trying to build a radio when you don’t know what type or size of battery you are going to put into it,” Clarke added.

The bacteria Shewanella oneidensis is seen as a potential power supply for applications ranging from charging mobile phones to cleaning up oil spills.

However, Clarke says that it will take years to use the electricity generated from the bacteria, noting that the technology for using bacteria needs to be more efficient than what it is now, the report said.