Bug Power For Your Mobile Phone

from the ok,-ok dept

Okay. Two people submitted this story last night, and another five did this morning. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but since everyone else does, I might as well include it here. Some researchers claim that they've developed the first "bacterial battery". It uses some bacteria that generates power as it eats up sugar. At this point they've only built a prototype (enough to run a Christmas light), but got it to run continuously for 25 days. The battery also looks to be fairly efficient, which gives the researchers hope that this product has the potential to be commercialized. And, in another case of real life imitating The Simpsons, it sounds like Homer's quote: "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women" could be more true than ever. Still, it sounds like this device is still a ways off from being commercialized, but it would be nice to recharge your phone with a handful of sugar.
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  • identicon
    Patrick, 9 Sep 2003 @ 1:57pm

    patent app

    OK--I've got my patent app submitted for "a rechargable/replacable device for powering electric and electronic equipment". I figure these guys, as well as the duracell and energizer people, owe me a pile of money.

    On a related note, after extensive testing, a correlation was found between the average USPTO office employee's shorts size and IQ.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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