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Re:New Life Found That Lives Off Electricity by jostmey on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @12:09PM (#11954969)
So what if life hasn't evolved yet to feed off of our power lines, but the potential for it to happen is there?
Re:New Life Found That Lives Off Electricity by etrautmann on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @12:54PM (#11955316)
I think they would need free electrons as the result of a chemical reaction, not just a voltage? For an organism to make use of a high voltage, it would need to physically connect to a lower voltage and allow current to flow, which is not possible for a microorganism that small given that the high voltage lines are isolated by several feet.

Cool concept for a GMO electro-snake though.

Re:New Life Found That Lives Off Electricity by ars on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @03:07PM (#11956203)
Yah, I think they feed off ions, not voltage.

There are similarities, but they are not the same.

Re:New Life Found That Lives Off Electricity by paavokoya on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @09:52PM (#11958383)
Trees evolving the ability to grow taller left large forests of dead lignin (tree trunks) lying around with no natural bacteria to decompose it. It's similar to our modern landfills and plastic patches in the ocean. Eventually life finds a way to use it.
Re:New Life Found That Lives Off Electricity by zamalek on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @12:31PM (#11955124)
Extremophiles have evolved and live around volcanic vents, so I wouldn't put it past nature.