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Kidney Cells Make Implantable Power Source

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the black-market-batteries dept.

Galactic_grub writes "New Scientist has an interesting round-up of patents related to green power technology. The ideas mentioned include an implantable power source made from stacks of kidney cells that could drive implanted devices like pacemakers, a chemical way to purifying hydrogen, a buckyball-based filter for methane fuel cells and an organism that turns grass cuttings (and other bio-waste) into ethanol."

5 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Proper Ethanol by Swordopolis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The faster we switch ethanol production over to cellulose, the better. It would mean that we're not cannibalizing our food supply to make it, and the cost wouldn't be tied to the rising price of corn.

    Making our ethanol out of the leftover waste materials is probably the only way ethanol will ever take off in this country.

    --
    Alchemist: Be Thou For the People
  2. Oh great by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Funny

    One more reason for them to steal my kidneys if I ever go to Mexico.

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
  3. Matrix by coppro · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. We are getting closer and closer to functional AI.
    2. Humans are a source of energy.
    3. I will enjoy watching you die, Mr. Anderson
    Wait... that's not how it was supposed to happen!
  4. Methanol not Methane! by wizardforce · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just a note about the fullerene filters mentioned in the article, they do not filter methane they filter Methanol specifically they prevent Methanol from diffusing across the memebrane of the fuel cell thus decreasing the amount of Methanol that is wasted.

    --
    Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
  5. Duracell Green by hal2814 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Duracell Green is people!