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Aquarium Uses Eel Powered Christmas Lights

Posted by samzenpus on from the slippery-tinsel dept.

A Japanese aquarium is using the greenest energy possible to power the lights on its Christmas tree, an electric eel. From the article: "Each time the eel moves, two aluminum panels gather enough electricity to light up the 2-meter (6 ft 6 in) tall tree, decked out in white, in glowing intermittent flashes."

9 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. They questioned the practicality?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Of course, it is not practical. Sometimes practicality needs to be shoved out of the way because impractical is half the fun. In this case it's the idea and the wonder of whether or not it could be done. They've shown it can be done regardless of how practical it may be. I, for one, rejoice in this sort of tinkering and proof.

    1. Re:They questioned the practicality?! by shadowrat · · Score: 2

      i don't question the practicality. I admire the fun in it. I do question labeling this as environmentally friendly and green. Resources are consumed keeping that eel alive. The filters are plugged into ac power. food has to be raised and brought to the eel. the eel probably needs the water heated to about 86f. The eel probably needs full spectrum lighting. It's about as environmentally friendly as running your christmas tree off of D cell batteries.

      the article is pretty terse. if it's part of a broader display that goes on about how eels themselves generate so much power and wouldn't it be cool if we found a way to mimic the eel and generate clean power from consuming goldfish, well that would be better (unless you are a goldfish).

      Of course, according to conventional wisdom, the eel isn't really a good example. It too generates power by consuming biomass and oxygen and emits carbon dioxide.

  2. Ask and ye shall receive. by dtmos · · Score: 4, Informative

    Piezoelectric Eels for Energy Harvesting in the Ocean.

  3. Re:I hate to say it but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Solar is the greenest energy available, hands down.

    Not if the solar cells require a lot of toxic chemicals and energy for the manufacture process...

  4. Feedback by dtmos · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... so if the eel is in sight of the tree, and is photophobic (or -philic), can one set up an oscillation in which eel movement causes light which causes more movement, making the tree lights flash at a substantially constant rate?

  5. Re:What about the eel? by operagost · · Score: 2

    Isn't it about time we addressed the issue of eel farts?

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  6. No-eel by digitaldc · · Score: 5, Funny

    No-eel, No-eel, No-eel, Noooo-eeeeeel!

    Born is the light powered by my eel.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  7. But what powers the eel? by shadowrat · · Score: 2

    I've had exotic fish (and reptiles, etc). They all require specific environments maintained at the right temperature. The water requires filtration. Often they require special lighting. You have to feed them. None of that stuff comes for free. I don't think you can make a closed energy loop out of an eel.

  8. Re:PETA by Nidi62 · · Score: 2

    You can draw power from PETA members. All you need is a giant treadmill or hamster wheel, a PETA member on the wheel, and a very hungry rottweiler on a chain behind them.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil