Artsy Citrus Clock turns lemons into time of day

We know, the last thing you want to hear of right now is more food, but we just couldn't resist. Anna Gram's artsy Citrus Clock combines the magic of stellar design with basic science in order to create a timepiece that's powered by lemons (or the citrus fruit of your choosing, presumably). Reportedly, a single juicy lemon will keep the seconds ticking for a fortnight (or two weeks, if you've got an inexplicable problem with said synonym), which ain't half bad if we should say so ourselves.

[Via Unplggd]

[ins @ Nov 29th 2008 8:38PM]

Cool idea, but wont you have an issue with fruit flies before your "battery" is dead?

[Wolfticket @ Nov 29th 2008 8:43PM]

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"

[Aguiluz @ Nov 29th 2008 9:11PM]

Now I get it!

I thought fruit literally flies through the air like a banana. Now it's "fruit flies" as in the little insects like to hover around a banana.
(I should stop taking quotes literally then...)

[GiF @ Nov 29th 2008 10:08PM]

Also, the actual time part is flat, so it'll be hard to read unless you're above the clock

[RoboDan @ Nov 30th 2008 1:51AM]

Dude, this is such old news...
totally saw this in 6th grade science like a few decades ago.

(doing impression of guy who always says: OLD... saw it on DIGG like 3 weeks ago)
Did you get it?

[Wulile @ Nov 30th 2008 2:26AM]

@GiF

Ya, IMHO "stellar design" by definition is a healthy marriage of form AND function... this seems to be all about the former. Tsk tsk Engadget, our old pal Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is rolling over in his grave right now.

[ML @ Nov 30th 2008 4:22AM]

Lemons contain citric acid which is a natural repellent for fruit flies.

[Ayman @ Nov 30th 2008 9:46AM]

on the upside you would have a nice fresh lemony scent

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 30th 2008 10:26AM]

Oh I see now expressions are used as a means to OOOOH.

Welcome to cluetown, population: you

[Brian @ Nov 29th 2008 8:38PM]

first?

I'll buy one, especially since my house will be foreclosed in only a week.

[bob @ Nov 29th 2008 9:13PM]

yeah its probably being foreclosed because you make stupid purchases like this one.

[Glenn Tobey @ Nov 29th 2008 11:14PM]

If your a person who got screwed by your bank then I'm sorry for you

If your an idiot that bought a house that's way to big that you could barely afford and got into debt over your head then oh well I hope someone with good intentions buys your home at auction

[B00B @ Nov 29th 2008 11:22PM]

The "American Dream" has become more of a nightmare hasn't it?

[Samurai Jack @ Nov 30th 2008 12:22AM]

I swear, it's "Siegfried" all over again. The story of an aristocrat who builds (or in your case buys) a house that's too big. He cuts corners on the construction (or in your case on the home loan) and the world ends. I think we're witnessing that last part now.

There's no making lemonade out of that one.

[Jared @ Nov 29th 2008 8:41PM]

Fortnight!

[Dan @ Nov 29th 2008 8:44PM]

Don't eat the lemon afterwards.. it could kill you!

[)ROFL( @ Nov 29th 2008 8:46PM]

Thanks for the heads up, I didn't know I was getting into a dangerous situation here.

[Blackstar @ Nov 29th 2008 11:41PM]

Does this mean if you use a lime instead, the clock will go backwards?

[Justin E @ Nov 29th 2008 11:46PM]

Not lemons, not limes - use oranges as in clockwork orange!

[The Joker @ Nov 30th 2008 12:13PM]

what it I use 4 lemons? Will it alter the Space-time continuum.

[Laughoutloud @ Nov 29th 2008 8:47PM]

It's time for a LEMON PARTY!

[Samboini @ Nov 30th 2008 2:50AM]

Laughoutloud, how apt.

[Str1ker @ Nov 30th 2008 8:32AM]

What time's the party?

[Dan @ Nov 30th 2008 10:03PM]

You can't have a lemon party without old Dick.

[InvadrZIM @ Nov 29th 2008 8:49PM]

do you have to set the time every time you swap out lemons?

[Aguiluz @ Nov 29th 2008 9:13PM]

That's why there are two lemons.

Redundancy. :)

[EricC @ Nov 29th 2008 11:03PM]

@ Aguiluz: RAIL (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Lemons)?

[Glenn Tobey @ Nov 29th 2008 11:16PM]

Yes but i have a feeling its RAIL 0 not RAIL 1 plus the RAIL drivers for windows vista are horrible

[Dez @ Nov 30th 2008 3:21AM]

More like delicious array, but whatever. This clock wouldn't work for me, as i love to eat lemons / limes, and wouldn't be able to leave them there for more than a few minutes.

[Ignatius @ Nov 30th 2008 10:44AM]

Wouldn't FAIL (Fruity Array of Inexpensive Lemons) be more appropriate?

[Claus @ Dec 1st 2008 1:23AM]

You set the time with LimeWire :)

[Jack Chance @ Nov 29th 2008 8:50PM]

A lemon every 2 weeks would be FAR more expensive than an actually battery.
This is pure kitch.

[Nick8708 @ Nov 29th 2008 9:00PM]

As far as I'm aware, they're not marketing this based on its practicality.

[Evan Rigterink @ Nov 29th 2008 11:07PM]

no kidding. I go through like 50 lemons a day using my lemon powered tv.

[Crash900s @ Dec 2nd 2008 12:37AM]

Also lemon juice will eat the stain right off the wood veneer.

[Ghen @ Nov 30th 2008 10:34AM]

Lemon powered space shuttle, forgettaboutit.

[McFly @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:47PM]

not if they're rechargable lemons

[Taylor @ Dec 1st 2008 3:33AM]

I know what you mean.

My lemon-powered iPhone won't even let me replace the battery... it smells a bit after a good 6 months of use!

[squeezer @ Nov 29th 2008 8:51PM]

I don't really know much about the science of this. Can you just put a bowl like design and squeeze the juice in there? Coz you don't want that lemon gets rotten after a couple of days right? Anyway, I hope this could power our cars somebody. LOL.

[loosely_coupled @ Nov 30th 2008 6:06PM]

IT is *NOT* the lemons that power this thing. The lemons simply provide an electrolytic solution (citrus acid in water) that connects the two metal electrodes. When connected, the electrodes undergo a redox reaction --- akin to water on iron causing oxidation into rust. The actual energy powering the clock came originally from all the energy used at the metal factory to reduce the metal oxide ore into pure copper or tin.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 29th 2008 8:53PM]

I like the smell of citrus in the morning :)

[Broken Haiku @ Nov 29th 2008 8:55PM]

Looks like this could turn sour real quickly.

[iEye @ Nov 29th 2008 9:02PM]

Oh please, at least use an analog clock like in that episode of "The Edison Twins"

[Messymeese @ Nov 30th 2008 1:33AM]

Yeah, because then it would only take 20 lemons a week instead of 40.

[Kassie @ Nov 29th 2008 9:10PM]

so it's a $??.?? ant magnet?

[don2ald1 @ Nov 29th 2008 9:19PM]

nice

[Edward Karabinus @ Nov 29th 2008 9:24PM]

Has anyone noticed how engadget stories have gotten gradually more ridiculous and irrelevant? A $168,000 speaker from Japan? A clock powered by citrus fruit? Seriously, engadget? (notice how many question marks I use; that denotes cunning insight)

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 29th 2008 9:29PM]

Real companies don't issue press releases on saturdays. And by saturday, I obviously mean CATURDAY!

[iEye @ Nov 29th 2008 9:43PM]

I totally agree %100

More coverage on the iPhone and its competition is welcomed...

[Richard @ Nov 29th 2008 9:50PM]

I thought this was a gadget and electronics website? Last time I checked this clock is a gadget, and those speakers are electronics.

What's the problem here?