Soil enzyme turns trace atmospheric hydrogen into electricity, enduring freeze and heat

Australian researchers isolated Huc, a hydrogenase from the soil bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis, which directly converts atmospheric hydrogen into an electrical current with high efficiency and unusual oxygen tolerance. The enzyme remains active after freezing or heating to 80°C, offering potential for small, air-powered devices or hydrogen-detection sensors. Lab demonstrations linked Huc to carbon nanotube circuits, yielding about 1.72 milliwatts per square centimeter with pure hydrogen, though real-world power from ambient air remains modest.