Researchers at Arizona State University have knocked down a huge barrier when it comes to sustainable biofuel sources. Currently, the biggest obstacle facing biofuels is harvesting them in a way that neither destroys the fuel, creates toxic by-products, nor breaks the bank.

The big breakthrough comes in the form of an engineered "burrito shaped" microbe (their words, not mine) that at maturity self-destructs and releases high-energy fats that are used to create biofuels.

So how do you engineer bacteria to kill itself? First, scientists added trace amounts of nickel, which 'fattened up' the microbes and increase production of the biofuel byproducts. Scientist then took genes from a predator of the pond scum, or a bacteriaphage, which then infect the pond scum and causes them explode like a hot dog in a microwave. From there, the remnants can easily be collected, processed, and turned into biofuel. Now that's what I call a bait and switch.

Source:ASU