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Cell Phones Powered By Bacteria?
So you're in Sub-Saharan Africa. You're surrounded by more bugs than Windows 95, and there isn't a power outlet for miles. But you've seen 'The Matrix,' so really it's not that much of a stretch: a bacteria-powered cellphone charger could be the answer to the lack of phone infrastructure in the developing world, even for those without electricity.
The newest iteration of the technology comes courtesy of the brain-builders at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who have designed a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that runs on plant waste; the prototype won the first prize in a recent contest held by Dow Chemical called MADMEC, which was held to encourage new uses of materials that allow alternative or non-traditional sources of energy.
Without getting too deep into it, MFCs use electrons -- released by feeding bacteria on sugars, starches, and other organic material -- to produce electricity. The team's prototypes, which it's calling BioVolt, run on less refined fuel than any before it, and the bacteria digest the cellulose in plant waste. The creators also say they can be produced for only about $2 a pop.
But don't start planting seeds just yet -- the technology is still very much "proof of concept". it would currently take around six months to charge a phone's battery using a BioVolt, which is about five months, 30 days, 24 hours, and 40 minutes longer than a three year-old Nokia.
From New Scientist
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Comments
23
Subscribe to commentsJossyOct 14th 2007 1:45AM
oh heck, they say that cellphone's and other electronic device's are causing cancer in people. sure, lets make them available to every person on this planet. maybe we'll all finally die off. i recently saw someone on tv produce electricity from a few itmes that we all have in our houses and apartments. who needs bacteria to do it when what's needed is probably right under your nose staring at you right now? as for electricity, i'm shutting it off to this computer now, using it to turn on the tv in another room to watch a movie on direct tv, and when tired, i'll shut the electricty off to that too. eh, i have horses and i sure wish i could make electricity or fuel to run my autos with from all the manure they drop. have to pay a guy to come here with his bobcat, in a few days from now, to move my well rotted huge pile, spread it out, and then we'll toss grass seed down on it. it's composted down to being the richest, dark, beautiful soil you eyes could want to see...grows great garden veggies and grass...but doesn't make electricity or fuel for my autos. pity.
E J CoxOct 15th 2007 12:11AM
Hey a simple spring windup generator built inot the phones could easily charge the battery and you'd never have to plug the phone in again..
Don StevensOct 15th 2007 3:09AM
Check out www.millenniumcell.com for a borohydride battery that combines borohydride (as in Mule Team Borax) and water with a catalyst to form hydrogen on demand (HOD). No hydrogen storage, thus no danger of explosion. The system has been accepted by the FAA for rule making with respect to aircraft carry on baggage. DOW Chemical is involveed in this project with MCEL. Should be very interesting to watch!