'Biofuel cells' could power gadgets with energy drinks

[Aurora]

BBC News - 25/08/10

Battery-like "biofuel cells" could in the future run on an energy drink or even vegetable oil, says a researcher.

A prototype cell has been described at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in the US.

The idea makes use of mitochondria, the power stations that in most living cells turn food into energy.

While applications may be far in the future, the work is a milestone in the integration of parts of a living cell into an electronic device.

Shelley Minteer of St Louis University in Missouri, US, said the devices could in the future replace disposable batteries in some applications.

Article continues ...

[revdode]

Reminds me of potato power.

http://www.ehow.com/how_18637_make-potato-clock.html

Only a matter of time until some smart guys creates a startup and pulls in funding for a vegetable based power cell based on this old lab demo.

[madibe]

what goes in must come out... krikey, a mobile phone that shits and farts...mind, most of them are used for crap anyway.

[Arowx]

I think one of the defence departments in the US was researching robots that used a bio based energy source it appeared on The Reg under a heading similar to "Canable Robot Warrior's".

Don't think it was a fuel cell more of a methane/digestion process and the actual robot was aimed at the bug/vermin removal, still...

Woman - Hi Rentakill, your robot's been in the basement a week now and there are no rats left but the neighbours cat tiddums has gone missing and my <expletive> of a husband has eloped with the maid so could you send someone round... Ouch what's that....