---
title: The Navy Is Trying to Turn Bacteria Into Jet Fuel
description: Researchers from the U.S. Navy and the University of Manchester in England are using bacteria that grows in seawater to engineer compounds that show potential as jet fuel. Current jet fuel is inefficient and expensive. Scientists reengineered the microbe’s genome, altering its metabolism, which in turn allowed for the creation of compounds that could become next-generation biofuels—a potentially cleaner and cheaper solution.
---

[Fluid Systems Engineering & Management Blog | Swagelok NorCal ](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog)

# [The Navy Is Trying to Turn Bacteria Into Jet Fuel](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/the-navy-is-trying-to-turn-bacteria-into-jet-fuel)

 Written by [Jeff Hopkins](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/author/jeff-hopkins) | 2/3/20 4:45 PM

### Scientists have manipulated this seawater species as a possible replacement for crude oil.

Researchers from the U.S. Navy and the University of Manchester in England are using bacteria that grows in seawater to engineer compounds that show potential as jet fuel. Current jet fuel is inefficient and expensive. Scientists reengineered the microbe’s genome, altering its metabolism, which in turn allowed for the creation of compounds that could become next-generation biofuels—a potentially cleaner and cheaper solution.

[Read the full article on Popular Mechanics →](https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a29506327/navy-bacteria-jet-fuel/)

[View full post](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/the-navy-is-trying-to-turn-bacteria-into-jet-fuel)

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