Harnessing Air’s Hidden Power: How Bacteria Turn Hydrogen into Electricity

Scientists have found a way for certain bacteria to eat hydrogen from the air and use it to generate electricity. The breakthrough comes from a tiny enzyme called Huc, which comes from Mycobacterium smegmatis. This enzyme splits hydrogen molecules—made of two protons and one electron—into usable energy. What makes it special is that it works in the presence of oxygen, unlike most chemical reactions that fail when oxygen is around. Since hydrogen is so rare in the atmosphere—just 0.00005%—this ability changes how we think about using air as a power source. The enzyme doesn’t just survive in low hydrogen; it powers itself efficiently, even at these tiny levels. The real magic happens inside the bacterium, where electrons from hydrogen flow through a chain of reactions and jump into a circuit. That current powers the cell directly—no intermediates, no energy loss. Researchers have now tweaked the gene for Huc, making it stable from as cold as -80°C to as hot as 80°C. That means it can work in all sorts of conditions, from freezing labs to hot industrial settings. They’ve also made it easier to pull out and clean from the bacteria, which helps with future use. With this, small devices—like sensors or tiny robots—could run on nothing but the hydrogen in the air, without needing batteries or charging.

How Huc Works and Why It Matters

• Huc breaks hydrogen molecules in oxygen-rich air: Unlike most catalysts, this enzyme doesn’t shut down in the presence of oxygen, making it uniquely suited to real-world conditions.
• It runs efficiently at ultra-low hydrogen levels: The enzyme works even when hydrogen is barely present in the atmosphere, proving biological systems can harness what’s otherwise invisible.
• It generates electricity directly: Electrons from hydrogen flow through a cell’s internal circuit, producing a current that powers the organism—no extra steps, no wasted energy.
• It’s stable and easy to handle: Genetic tweaks have made it last across a wide temperature range and simpler to isolate, opening the door to practical applications.

Imagine a sensor that never runs out of power, or a micro-robot that moves on its own, fueled only by the air around it. This isn’t science fiction—it’s a living system already doing the work. With a bit more tuning, this could one day power small, independent devices in places where batteries don’t work.