Microbial fuel cell insights bring practical poo power closer to reality
It's been a while since we had an update from the exciting frontier of microbial fuel cell technology, but researchers at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute report a recent breakthrough in understanding exactly why bacteria seem to enjoy donating their electrons for the potential betterment of gadgetkind. The ASU team developed an equation that describes the relationship between the rate of bacterial metabolism and the electrical potential of the fuel cell, enabling a much more accurate model of how an MFC actually works. The researchers are working with this information to optimize fuel cell performance and power output, which to date has been disappointingly inefficient. Before long, we could totally be taking it for granted that our robotic underlings are powered by beer and poo.
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Biff Superman @ Jan 5th 2008 10:34PM
not sure if i'd hit it. i'd need to knock a few back first
Mark @ Jan 5th 2008 10:50PM
wow, finally something that OPEC can't touch, I mean..they can't 'buy' the rights to produce shit.
Ian @ Jan 5th 2008 11:47PM
ahh u underestimate the power of oil!!!
aguiluz @ Jan 5th 2008 10:56PM
Nice! I just have to add these into a house's septic tank and I will be gold.
BananaBoat @ Jan 5th 2008 11:41PM
Because we all strive for a world in which air is clean, yet smells like shit.
jd @ Jan 6th 2008 12:21AM
sounds like Matrix's plot.
Human will eventually "process" the earth material into organic to generate Mathernal for the machine to consume..
Adam @ Jan 6th 2008 12:28AM
Barb! You've been gone since last CES!!! Wierd.........but cool :-)
barb dybwad @ Jan 6th 2008 2:07AM
every year they thaw me from my cryogenic slumber for the nefarious purposes of CES. PARTY TIME!
Ghen @ Jan 6th 2008 9:27AM
Woot Woot!
Nathan @ Jan 6th 2008 12:41AM
Am I the only one that read Microsoft Foundation Classes?
Ed @ Jan 6th 2008 2:27AM
A Beer powered robot?
How Original :)
Bladestar @ Jan 6th 2008 8:13PM
mmm... currently all presidential candidates are talking about the energy crisis... the one that mentions this one wins my vote! this is better than wind, sun, and others... unless we evolved into assless creatures which can take years this energy source will be available.