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"Spin Battery" Effect Discovered

Posted by kdawson on from the usual-caveats-apply dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at the University of Miami and at the Universities of Tokyo and Tohoku, in Japan, have discovered a spin battery effect: the ability to store energy into the magnetic spin of a material and to later extract that energy as electricity, without a chemical reaction. The researchers have built an actual device to demonstrate the effect that has a diameter about that of a human hair. This is a potentially game-changing discovery that could affect battery and other technologies. Quoting: Although the actual device... cannot even light up an LED..., the energy that might be stored in this way could potentially run a car for miles. The possibilities are endless, Barnes said.'"

15 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Cool. by B5_geek · · Score: 5, Funny

    This sounds cool, but what they are not telling you is that it will stop working if you bring it south of the equator. :)

    --
    "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." ~Plato (427-347 BC)
    1. Re:Cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, but on the other hand, it provides limitless energy in Washington DC!

    2. Re:Cool. by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Funny

      I bet it will even work on the O'Rily Factor even though he says it wont.

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      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    3. Re:Cool. by MillenneumMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      NASCAR!!!

  2. Miles? by noundi · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the energy that might be stored in this way could potentially run a car for miles. The possibilities are endless, Barnes said.

    Awesome, I have yet to travel miles by car.

    --
    I am the lawn!
    1. Re:Miles? by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I can potentially power a car for miles with twisted up rubberbands"

      So you bought a Yugo too, eh?

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    2. Re:Miles? by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can potentially power a car for miles with twisted up rubberbands if I want to

      I think there is some stimulus money available for you.

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      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  3. yeah, if you believe the spin... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, yeah. We know how the spin works. But it works only in the PR side of things.

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    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  4. CAUTION by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do not open or crush battery. Severe risk of releasing a life-sucking vortex.

    Do not dispose in fire. Doing so could loose a storm of flaming vortices.

    Do not use this battery on carnival rides, while figure skating, or place in spinning clothes washer. Risk of severe gyroscopic reactions, which may lead to property damage, personal injury or death.

    1. Re:CAUTION by dazedNconfuzed · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do not taunt Magnetic Spin Battery.

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      Can we get a "-1 Wrong" moderation option?
    2. Re:CAUTION by Gerafix · · Score: 4, Funny
      You forgot:

      Do not look into spinning battery with remaining eye.

  5. Yeah, but.. by AndrewNeo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Although the actual device... cannot even light up an LED...

    So you're telling me this thing is less powerful than a potato?

  6. Re:Achem by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Funny

    In other words -- what's preventing the battery from discharging?

    A liberal coating of snake oil.

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    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  7. Re:Achem by CecilPL · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now Eddy's in currents too? I think I saw his couch float by back when he was in the space-time continuum.

  8. Re:Battery Aging by aukset · · Score: 3, Funny

    like taking the batteries out of things, then losing them in the toilet, the cat, the microwave...

    I suddenly have an urge to put batteries in a cat...

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    No sig now