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Scientists Harvest Nano-Power From Hamsters

Posted by timothy on from the diminishing-returns dept.

Al writes "Researchers at Georgia Tech have come up with the ideal way to test a new peizo-electric device that efficiently harvests power from bio-movement — attaching it to a hamster. The device contains a series of zinc-oxide nanowires mounted on top of a flexible plastic surface. As the plastic bends, the wires generate around a nanowatt of power. The Georgia Tech team, led by Zhong Lin Wang, wanted to show that their device could produce power from irregular movements so they attached it to a tiny hamster jacket. They also tried attaching it to a volunteer's finger. Here's a video of the hamster wearing his piezo-power outfit."

3 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Perhaps a tiny bowler hat too? by niro5 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I am most intrigued by the idea of hamsters wearing jackets.

  2. I was expecting a hamster wheel... by Zakabog · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was expecting a hamster wheel being used as a generator and thought "Really? That's something new?"

    This technology seems a lot more useful as long as they can get it to scale up nicely. It'd be nice to be able to charge a cell phone from the clothing you wear.

  3. But only 28 by denzacar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    To power a red light LED.

    And that is the basic single-wire nanogenerator.

    1. Scale it up to more nanogenerators so 1 hamster could easily power a red LED laser pointer which would be attached to it's wheel.
    2. Attach a larger nanogenerator jacket to a cat.
    3. Generate endless amounts of energy.
    4. Profit.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens