http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/ Engadget Comments for Yissum develops potato-powered batteries for the developing world 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/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/"Solution"]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
Just saying(s).]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
Unlikely, unless you were MacGuyver.]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/I'm scared I might get fined by the "grammar police" that are known to patrol Engadget. But as always, someone has to make a comment about everything. As you just did.]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Lol, I couldn't see having to using one myself. But it seems like every time someone needs to make a emergency phone call in movies now days, they could desperately use of these!]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Sorry you interpreted a "comment" as a "complaint". Your bad! FYI I was just making a statement, though you make it more and more valid every time you reply :-).]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Lol. I don't know if you remember the article about putting sensors in sidewalks to generate energy from the movement of people walking or not. But those would also be useful in those bar brawls.]]>Jun 20th 2010 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
We're talking about potatoes here. POTATOES.]]>Jun 20th 2010 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
Yes, specially if when you don't need the light anymore you can still eat the potato.
In terms of efficiency though I'm certain that the energy needed to boil the tuber is greater than the the one needed to obtain equivalent luminosity from other sources.]]>Jun 20th 2010 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/I try not to let myself get bothered by the whole "Irish people are crazy drunks!" but after a while it gets tiring . . We're probably one of the friendliest nations and the brawling really is exaggerated.
Ah well, I'm off to the pub . .]]>Jun 20th 2010 1:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 3:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
Calm down Samwise Gamgee.]]>Jun 20th 2010 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 10:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 21st 2010 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Use human power to ignite the fuel in dry sticks. Then use the burning sticks to get water to change phases from liquid to gas.]]>Jun 21st 2010 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/As all the prescription medicine commercials go:
"This may cause, diarrhea, vomiting, blindness, loss of appetite, lack of sexual interest, sleeplessness,difficulty breathing, death."

/sarcasm]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
To "what" for days?]]>Jun 20th 2010 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
to "fart." Can't imagine why they left that little side effect off the press release. ]]>Jun 20th 2010 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
You forgot anal leakage. >:)]]>Jun 20th 2010 2:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 10:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/now this is a legit question i have been wondering for days now. after you use this (or anything food related) for a battery is it ok to eat? and does it alter the taste. becuase if not then you are basically using 1 food item for two purposes.]]>Jun 20th 2010 11:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/It won't have nutritional value.]]>Jun 21st 2010 3:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 21st 2010 8:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/ahh good to know! thanks]]>Jun 25th 2010 9:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
I saw 2 things initially "developing nations" and 5 blocks of C4]]>Jun 20th 2010 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
enabling it to do...? I'm assuming there is a missing word... something like... work/run?

Its nice that it can operate for that long... but what kind of specs are we talking here (amperage, voltage, etc.)... And correct me if I'm wrong, but the electrodes will get expended eventually right? that's the main source of the electromotive force correct?]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/I was thinking the same thing. (both about the missing word and the electrodes).
The question is, what do you do with the potatoes after the battery dies? Are they edible? In all probability they will gain some sort of zinc-copper toxins. And lets not forget the food crisis in developing nations. The energy guys are who make the big bucks: if they see potatoes as a valuable resource, their price will skyrocket, doing more damage than good to the poor people.]]>Jun 20th 2010 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
Potatoes don't tend to be a poor nation staple, not through Africa and Asia at least. Think rice and wheat.

I wonder if different potatoes or potatoes grown in certain soils or with certain mineral boosts would be even more energy generating.]]>Jun 20th 2010 9:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
I don't see why different potatoes or potatoes of different qualities wouldn't be more effective... but to my understanding, at the end of the day, the electrodes are going to have the biggest impact, and the biggest cost... the potato is just serving as the electrolyte, and whatever they are doing to prepare them (boiling... anything else?) improves its electrolytic ability...

I agree about the poor nation food staple to a certain extent... I know from first hand experience that in certain poorer regions of southern Africa (I did some charity work there), corn meal was used heavily (waste cornmeal from the production of corn products).]]>Jun 21st 2010 11:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 10:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/
I was thinking, its nothing to be proud of to give a slightly modified graid school science project away for free...]]>Jun 20th 2010 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/20/yissum-develops-potato-powered-batteries-for-the-developing-worl/Jun 20th 2010 9:53AM