Bacteria cells self-assemble their own glass coating using sea sponge enzymes creating advanced sensor microlenes

https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/what-is-a-microlenses-bioglass-sea-sponge-632292/

"sea sponges grow light, delicate, intricate, strong silica glass skeletons... inexpensive/ easy to grow at standard temperature/ pressure, no need for complex, expensive machinery to shape accurately... silicatein enzyme from sea sponges... microlenses much smaller than typically produced... visualize smaller structures with greater clarity... glass-coated bacteria remain alive months sensing/ responding to environment by changing optic properties, for studying materials' effect low-gravity environments, space"

Related: Engineered dual-bacterial sensors turn chemical signals into electricity
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1124715