Enzyme Bio-Battery Runs on Ethanol

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Enzyme Bio-Battery Runs on Ethanol

Posted by chrisd on Tuesday March 25, 2003 @03:08AM from the douglas-adams-was-right dept.

mpthompson writes "According to this article at New Scientist.com substantial progress is being made on enzyme-catalyzed ethanol based batteries to run cell phones and laptops. Such batteries promise to be cheaper, safer and less toxic than previously demonstrated methanol based fuel cells."

25 of 196 comments (clear)

Finally! by Linux_ho · 2003-03-25 03:11 · Score: 2, Funny

A beer-powered laptop!

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include $sig;
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1. Re:Finally! by Xenographic · 2003-03-25 04:35 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  But how will I get any work done if the computer drinks all my beer? :[
  
  Oh, wait...
Hmmm... by EFGearman · 2003-03-25 03:11 · Score: 3, Funny

Batteries run off of vodka or gin?

"A charge for you, and a blast for me."

EFGearman

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Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed!
1. Re:Hmmm... by errxn · 2003-03-25 05:51 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I agree. Being subjected to an Everclear song certainly makes me want to kill myself.
  
  --
  In Soviet Russia, Chuck Norris will still kick your ass.
What about a mixer? by dreamchaser · 2003-03-25 03:12 · Score: 1, Funny

This is great news. Now I just need to buy a variety of mixers to carry in my laptop case. A splash of fruit juice, maybe some ginger ale, and I can drink my battery fuel!!!

Seriously, this has been a long time coming, and yes there have been a few other Slashdot stories about ethanol powered batteries. I would love to get a hold of a laptop that runs for hours on end on grain alcohol.
1. Re:What about a mixer? by JonTurner · 2003-03-25 03:53 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  >>This is great news.
  Yeah, until you try to sneak it onto an expense report:
  
  Taxi - $28.00
  Meal @ airport - $11.45
  Hotel - $85.00
  Eight bottles of gin - $65.00
  
  Something tell me that Wanda over in Accounting isn't goint to think that eight bottles of sauce looks quite so "great." ;)
  
  On the other hand, this may be the only case where conspicious consumption of alcohol is a justification for a promotion. "Gosh, boss, look at all these empty bottles! That's two more bottles than last week, don'cha think I deserve a raise?!?"
  
  Now if only someone would invent edible CDs...
mm.....alcoholic batteries by Scrab · 2003-03-25 03:12 · Score: 2, Funny

So that's why my display is so screwy - my laptop is drunk.....

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RoseColor red={0, 0xffff, 0x0000, 0x0000};VioletColour blue={0, 0x0000, 0x0000, 0xffff};find / -name *mybase*|chown you
Buzz by YokuYakuYoukai · 2003-03-25 03:13 · Score: 1, Funny

Now you might really get a buzz from licking a nine volt.

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Won't you be my my neighbor?
Wrong Dept. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-25 03:13 · Score: 1, Funny

This should've been from the one-for-you-one-for-me dept.

Can't you just see stressed out managers popping out the battery, tossing down a shot, and plugging it back in?
This isn't news by the_other_one · 2003-03-25 03:14 · Score: 5, Funny

Ethanol powered phones have been arround for decades.

I have talked to God on the porcelin telephone many times.

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134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
This makes perfect sense... by Fritz+Benwalla · 2003-03-25 03:15 · Score: 4, Funny

"We have actually run our cells off vodka and gin."
That's kept Liza Minelli running for close to sixty years, no reason it can't run my laptop for a few hours.
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Believe me, I'm as surprised by my comment as you are.
1. Re:This makes perfect sense... by Fishstick · 2003-03-25 04:39 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  My first thought on seeing this thread was Bender.
  
  Olde Fortran malt liquor, was it?
  
  --
  There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
  Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
2. Re:This makes perfect sense... by Open_The_Box · 2003-03-25 05:26 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Fry: But why would a robot need to drink?
  Bender: I don't NEED to drink. I can give it up any time I want!
  
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  If you can't think of something nice to say then don't say anything at all. No, REALLY.
Scientists Choose Ethanol by mattyohe · 2003-03-25 03:19 · Score: 2, Funny

Evidently they prefer it over competing fuels. This seems like a bad move on NewScientist's part.

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- what is the definition of simultanagnosia?! I've been meaning to look it up!
Re:Biotech Ethanol by warpSpeed · 2003-03-25 03:27 · Score: 2, Funny

Who knows, maybe some day Kansas will power your calls.
Toto, I don't think we are using non-biodegradable power sources anymore....
Re:In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-25 03:50 · Score: 1, Funny

This may be dangerous. Russians won't be able to call for a ride (after a good drunk) because they drank their phone battery.
Honest officer... by sayerofno · 2003-03-25 03:50 · Score: 1, Funny

The bottle of vodka is only for charging my laptop!
Re:The major problem of the next year may well be. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-25 03:57 · Score: 1, Funny

We'll do what biology does: install sweat glands into the laptop!

Following that, we'll see various laptop deodorants come to market...
A glimpse of the Future(rama) by jakedata · 2003-03-25 03:58 · Score: 3, Funny

Bender the robot uses Ethanol for power. A couple bottles of 'Old Fortran' kept him going for hours.

Now if I could only run my cell phone off of cigarettes, we could re-purpose the entire vice industry. We all know how useful hemp is too...
You Fools! by Gatton · 2003-03-25 04:08 · Score: 2, Funny

Soylent Battery is made from people! It's PEOPLE!!! /PhilHartman
Futurama by SnuSnu · 2003-03-25 04:37 · Score: 3, Funny

Stick one of these in a robot and voila: Bender!
Re:Enzyme Rights by Diphthong · 2003-03-25 04:51 · Score: 4, Funny

Erm, an enzyme is just a huge molecule, isn't it? It isn't alive in any sense. Don't worry, you won't be oppressing any bacteria or anything -- never mind the millions of 'em each of us slaughter daily by breathing. :)
edible CDs by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-25 05:05 · Score: 1, Funny

AOL could solve world hunger.
Re:Some industrial enzymes are from "hot" bacteria by pyrote · 2003-03-25 06:26 · Score: 2, Funny

Those function nicely up to the temperature of boiling mud.

You obviously haven't tried a P4 laptop out recently.

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THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
Re:A possible end to crop subsidies? by mdielmann · 2003-03-25 07:13 · Score: 2, Funny

An ethanol economy is not quite as desirable as a hyrdrogen economy, but it can still be very good.
I would imagine you could find at least a billion people who desire an ethanol economy over a hydrogen economy, and they seem to think it is very good.

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Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?