Microbes Eat More Sewage with Music




(Treuenbrietzen, Germany) Recent experience at a treatment plant south of Berlin suggests that microbes eat more sewage when serenaded by Mozart's Magic Flute.

According to plant manager Roland Meinusch, the microbes have been munching more feces with music than without music.

“After a year, we were left with 6,000 cubic metres of sludge, compared with the usual 7,000 cubic metres we produce in a year. That saved us about €10,000 which is quite a lot of money," Meinusch said.

Confirmation of the connection between microbe productivity and music is being sought from scientists and academia.

On the surface, the music connection seems to make sense. Most people are inclined to start moving when the music starts. Folks are prompted drum their fingers, dance or even play air guitar to music. Maybe a similar reaction occurs in microbes.