The Living Wire
︎ Creator: Victoria Neyman
︎ Supervisor: Peter Yeadon
In a world where e-waste accumulates by the minute in our oceans, rivers, and whatever other natural environment we can think of, the option to collaborate with earth’s longest existing organisms is opened up to us.
Imagine a wire – a household wire – that lives, functions, and gracefully decomposes after its use, leaving little trace behind.
The Living Wire offers a speculative concept that redefines sustainability in electronic design, by integrating bioengineered bacteria into the core structure of a household wire. This collaboration between manmade technology and nature’s bacterial organisms allows for households to be introduced to, and involved with, the field of biodesign on an elementary level, while being more sustainable and earth friendly as well.
The Living Wire features a dual-layer design: a conductive core paired with a bacteria-infused textile insulation layer. These specialized bacteria are engineered to remain dormant during the wire's functional lifespan. Upon disposal, environmental triggers such as moisture or specific pH conditions activate the bacteria, prompting them to break down the insulation layer into harmless, biodegradable byproducts. Complementing this design, recycled metals like copper are used for the conductive core, ensuring a circular and sustainable material lifecycle.
Inspired by the electrical conductivity of slime molds and advances in microbial engineering, The Living Wire introduces the possibility of "living electronics" that decay rather than persist as pollutants. By hosting life within its structure, this wire minimizes e-waste and sets a precedent for biodesign in electronic systems.
︎ Supervisor: Peter Yeadon
In a world where e-waste accumulates by the minute in our oceans, rivers, and whatever other natural environment we can think of, the option to collaborate with earth’s longest existing organisms is opened up to us.
Imagine a wire – a household wire – that lives, functions, and gracefully decomposes after its use, leaving little trace behind.
The Living Wire offers a speculative concept that redefines sustainability in electronic design, by integrating bioengineered bacteria into the core structure of a household wire. This collaboration between manmade technology and nature’s bacterial organisms allows for households to be introduced to, and involved with, the field of biodesign on an elementary level, while being more sustainable and earth friendly as well.
The Living Wire features a dual-layer design: a conductive core paired with a bacteria-infused textile insulation layer. These specialized bacteria are engineered to remain dormant during the wire's functional lifespan. Upon disposal, environmental triggers such as moisture or specific pH conditions activate the bacteria, prompting them to break down the insulation layer into harmless, biodegradable byproducts. Complementing this design, recycled metals like copper are used for the conductive core, ensuring a circular and sustainable material lifecycle.
Inspired by the electrical conductivity of slime molds and advances in microbial engineering, The Living Wire introduces the possibility of "living electronics" that decay rather than persist as pollutants. By hosting life within its structure, this wire minimizes e-waste and sets a precedent for biodesign in electronic systems.
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