http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/ Engadget Comments for Ultrathin, algae-based batteries could charge things you never thought possible http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
And then we get a story about a new-fangled battery tech.

It makes me smile. ]]>Nov 29th 2009 2:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
Will believe it when its there!]]>Nov 29th 2009 2:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Seconded. Less 'breakthroughs', more physical products, por favor.]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 4:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/I remember getting all excited about the Methanol Batteries and it took them this long to be adopted. Not only that but they are doing it wrong. If I recall correctly the plan was to embed the tech directly into phone batteries so all you needed to do was inject regular methanol and charge your phone instantly. But instead they came up with a big fat expensive external solution that you have to buy "specialized methanol" directly from them for ridiculous prices. Defeating the purpose, as it is more cost effective to just buy a few batteries and it will last longer and take up less space in your bag than the methanol gadget.

/end rant
Back on topic, I won't hold my breath expecting this to be implemented any time soon.]]>Nov 29th 2009 9:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
I think you're referring to hydrogen fuel cell power (in this case hydrogen is taken from methanol). In this case methanol fuel cells, and they aren't dead, they are still early in development. Toshiba has shown a bunch of prototypes, and has released one last month.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/22/toshiba-dynario-fuel-cell-the-battery-revolution-begins-october/

Also, they aren't batteries at all. And BTW, they don't used any specialized methanol, any methanol will do- its dirt cheap.]]>Nov 29th 2009 8:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 11:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 2:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 3:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 2:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
My Blackberry curve battery actually lasts a cool 5~6 days on average, and this is after owning it for a good year and a half. When I first got it, it would last about a week!

Unfortunately, after 2 years of having my MacBook, the battery life went from 2.5 hours to 30 minutes. Sucks.]]>Nov 29th 2009 2:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 2:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 2:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
The oil companies killed battery technologies. If we had super efficient batteries, then we wouldn't need them and their black gold to power our vehicles.]]>Nov 29th 2009 2:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 2:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/]]>Nov 29th 2009 2:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/You're weird.]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 3:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 3:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
We all know (as mentioned above), the chubby fish called 'oil industry' ate a lot of industries, technologies and, bingo! Our money...]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 3:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 5:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 9:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 3:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/

...years later: still no battery breakthrough...]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/ no what you mean is, no battery production we all know breakthroughs will happen its just implementing them is going to be hard.]]>Nov 30th 2009 5:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
As for major breakthroughs, many are promising but few have reached commercialization.]]>Nov 29th 2009 4:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 4:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 4:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 7:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
Thanks for being the only person to read the article.

Also, Cladophora is a pretty large genus. They weren't specific on what species they were using.]]>Nov 30th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
I agree with earlier comments; we see lots of "breakthroughs," but few, if any, actual applications. Of course, it could just be because of the internet, where we hear about discoveries almost as they happen. In the past, we weren't as aware of the long road these things take before getting into consumer devices, and so we weren't as aware.

I mean, weren't battery chemistries like lithium-based rechargeables first discovered and experimented with back in the 1910s and 1920s? But it took several decades later until it became feasible, stable, and cheap enough to use in consumer devices. ]]>Nov 29th 2009 3:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/
So how would you charge one of these algae-based batteries? Wouldn't they require constant sunlight to keep the algae alive and the battery functional?]]>Nov 29th 2009 4:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/29/ultrathin-algae-based-batteries-could-charge-things-you-never-t/Nov 29th 2009 4:54PM