Electrical engineers have found a way to use bacteria [that can breathe anaerobically, or without oxygen] to manufacture an up-and-coming two-dimensional material called molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which can form a sheet just a few atoms thick and holds promise for future electronics. These metal-breathing bacteria could transform electronics, biosensors, and more. The new finding, published in Biointerphases, could help avoid a daunting synthesis process that requires a harsh environment. “Graphene is the breakout superstar of the two-dimensional materials,” says Shayla Sawyer, an electrical engineer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a senior author of the paper. – Karen Kwon