The project finally accomplished its goal after five years of research and development of the M13 bacteriophage, which is attracted to inorganic materials. The team of researchers led by Angela Belcher managed to modify the M13 virus to grow proteins on its surface that attract amorphous iron phosphate. The researchers developed viruses that would attract iron phosphate and carbon nanotubes which resulted into highly conductive material that weighed almost zero. 

 

This way, the research team put together a micro-battery that can be charged about 100 times. The virus was also programmed by scientists so that one end became sticky to carbon nanotubes, very good conductors of electricity. However, carbon nanotubes are quite expensive, and many scientists say that they pose high risks to the environment. 

 

"The more genetic engineering we did, the better it got," Belcher said. 

 

Angela Belcher, a materials scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, insists that the project is in its early stages despite the breakthrough discovery. The researcher said the project could get twice the power performance of what the team demonstrated so far.