Cell Phones Powered By Bacteria? Posted Oct 9th 2007 10:27AM by Evan Shamoon Filed under: Cell Phones, Green Tech 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 this is pretty amusing...
What a whack idea--NEver know... Could work.. But the charging time could be a bit of a pain, even if it was improved dramtically
man those MIT kids. guess they'll be spending the rest of their lives trying to figure out how to shorten the charging time. very ingenious although inconvenient in this fast-paced society.
Well the concept is environment friendly I guess so if they improve this drastically it might work in those Third World countries? (or maybe it's also handy as a back up for the western world in case terrorists attacks the western communication apparature?)
