Herding Microbes

Here's a novel idea -- herding microbes. Yes, that's herding -- like herding cows, sheep, etc. Herding microbes together is a goal for scientists looking to bring microbes floating around together for testing and possible eradication. Imagine a few microbes in the space station -- or terrorist letting lose biological weapons -- being able to control what we can't see might not be such a bad idea. Scientists are working to develop detectors that can sift through large amounts of water and isolate the microbes. The detectors use a positively-charged electrode to attract microbes who's outer membrane are slightly negative in water. The detectors work by sifting water through successive electrode filters that increase the concentration of microbes in detector. The end result should be the capture of at least 90% of the microbes present.