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Nuclear Battery That Runs 10 Years
Jenny writes "A battery with a lifespan measured in decades is in development at the University of Rochester, as scientists demonstrate a new fabrication method that in its roughest form is already 10 times more efficient than current nuclear batteries -- and has the potential to be nearly 200 times more efficient. Similar to the way solar panels work by catching photons from the sun and turning them into current, the science of betavoltaics uses silicon to capture electrons emitted from a radioactive gas, such as tritium, to form a current. As the electrons strike a special pair of layers called a 'p-n junction,' a current results. I can imagine lots of applications for this new battery including my own laptop."
So now instead of just overheating... my laptop can have a total meltdown?
"Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"
Moderation Totals: Wrong=2, Stupid=3, Total=5.
If you ever have an iPod with one of these things, don't send it through the washing machine, and then start stabbing it with a screwdriver...
Betavoltaics? I'll wait until this radioactive battery is more... stable.
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
"So ladies and gentlemen - here we have it; a high-tech battery that lasts many times longer than those made with current technology, a clean and efficient power source for the 21st century - ideal for all sorts of gadgets and items essential for the executive on the move! Just one small thing - how do we convince power laptop users to accept having a radioactive source approximately 2" away from their testicles? Anyone?"
AT&ROFLMAO
Okay, I've made some adjustments to a previous story to cope with this new technology. Just a few words.
Apple: iPod Dangerous When Wet
Posted by CowboyNeal on Friday May 13, @05:43AM
from the potential-hazards dept.
somefutureslashdotter writes "What do you do when your mom washes your iPod? Fix it, of course. A teenager in Australia found out the hard way that messing with the insides of his iPod is dangerous and needed to be pieced together from basic components after it exploded, leveling several city blocks."
This will be awesome in iPods.
Until your mother launders it.
And you take a screwdriver to it.
And it flips you into orbit.
-- often wrong; never in doubt
Actually, you'd keep the battery and buy a new laptop for it every few years.
f u cn rd ths u cn gt a gd jb n cmptr prgmng
1) Use specific tritium charger only. Do not use a NiMH or NiCd charger - Failure to do so may a cause fire, which may result in personal injury and property damage, across a wide area. 2) Never charge batteries unattended. When charging H-3 batteries you should always remain in constant observation to monitor the charging process and react to potential problems that may occur, by running away, fast. 3) Some H-3 chargers on the market may have technical deficiencies that may cause it to charge the H-3 batteries incorrectly or at an improper rate. It is your responsibility solely to assure the charger you purchased works properly. Always monitor charging process to assure batteries are being charged properly. Failure to do so may result in meltdown. 4) If at any time you witness a battery starting to balloon or swell up, discontinue charging process immediately, disconnect the battery and observe it in a safe place, several miles away, for approximately 500 years. This may cause the battery to leak, and the reaction with air may cause the isotopes to chain-react, resulting in mushroom cloud. 5) Since delayed chain reaction can occur, it is best to observe the battery as a safety precaution. Battery observation should occur in a safe area outside of any building or vehicle and away from any fissile material. 6) Wire lead shorts can cause fire! If you accidentally short the wires, the battery must be placed in a safe area for observation for approximately 800 years. Additionally, if a short occurs and contact is made with metal (such as rings on your hand), severe injuries may occur due to the conductibility of electric current. 7) A battery can still fission even after 1000 years. 8) In the event of a crash, you must remove battery for observation and place in a safe open area away from any combustible material, and major cities, for approximately 5000 years. 9) If for any reason you need to cut the terminal wires, it will be necessary to cut each wire separately, ensuring the wires to not touch each other or a short may occur, potentially causing a chain-reaction. 10) To solder a connector: Remove insulating 8-inch lead shielding of Red wire and solder to positive terminal of a connector, then remove insulating 8-inch lead shielding of Black wire and solder to the negative terminal of connector. Be careful not to short the wire lead. If you accidentally cause the battery to short, place it in a safe open space and observe the battery for approximately 100,000 years. A battery may swell or even possibly induce fission after a geologically insignificant time. 11) Never store or charge battery pack inside your car in extreme temperatures, since extreme temperature could cause irreparable damage to you car, and blow away half the state.
With apologies to thunderpower-batteries.com
You are missing the real danger! What if a focused nuclear blast hits you while using your laptop! The tritium could fuse, and KILL you!
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