Photoactive natural protein could reshape the future of electronic materials

• Indian scientists at INST Mohali discovered that a self-assembling bacterial microcompartment (BMC) shell protein behaves as a light-driven semiconductor, generating photocurrent under UV without dyes/metals/external power.
• Marks a step toward green, soft, biocompatible electronics (wearables, implantables, environmental sensors) — alternative to silicon-based rigid, energy-intensive, e-waste-heavy devices.
• Relevance: GS-III (Sci & Tech, Indigenous R&D, e-waste) + Prelims hooks on INST Mohali, DST autonomous bodies, BMC proteins.