Electricity-conducting bacteria: that sounds like science fiction. But twelve years ago, researchers discovered microbial chains at the bottom of oceans and lakes that can conduct electricity over several centimetres. These cable bacteria (lat. Electronema) stimulate the breakdown of pollutants and reduce the formation of greenhouse gases. One day, they may be used as biodegradable power cables. The Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) chose Electronema, the most prominent representative cable bacterium, as the Microbe of the Year – for the first time a bacterial species that has yet to be fully described in pure culture.