Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Journal of Young Scientist", Vol. 10
Written by Vlad EFTIMIE, Mirela COTUNĂ, Gina BUJOR
In this paper we want to present a short review about the amazing activity of microorganisms, which does not cease to surprise us and the various fields of activity where they can be used. Due to the fact that microorganisms have existed on earth for almost 4 billion years, they have been able to develop very complex metabolic pathways that have allowed them to occupy various ecological niches and survive. Also, the complex relationships that have been established over time between different types of microorganisms, and that have begun to be discovered and understood by researchers, open new perspectives for the development of new technologies and environmentally friendly products. Microorganisms continue to amaze us with their incredible properties: they can be excellent builders, producers of natural pigments for nontoxic dyes, producers of nanoparticles and nanomaterials, purifiers of contaminated air, water and soil, skilled decomposers of countless chemicals (even xenobiotic), recyclers of matter in biogeochemical cycles, etc. In this paper we will draw attention to how microorganisms can be included in state of the art technologies and products that help the sustainable development of human society in the near future. Thus, we will talk about: eco-friendly biological bricks, building materials from mycelium, biocomposite, the healer fungus, algae-grown limestone concrete, electricity-generating bio-panels, fungi for everyday products, natural microbial dye, bacteria and amazing spider silk.
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