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MIT Creates Glucose Fuel Cell To Power Implanted Brain-Computer Interfaces
MrSeb writes "Neuroengineers at MIT have created an implantable fuel cell that generates electricity from the glucose present in the cerebrospinal fluid that flows around your brain and spinal cord. The glucose-powered fuel cell is crafted out of silicon and platinum, using standard semiconductor fabrication processes. The platinum acts as a catalyst, stripping electrons from glucose molecules, similar to how aerobic animal cells (such as our own) strip electrons from glucose with enzymes and oxygen. The glucose fuel cell produces hundreds of microwatts (i.e. tenths of a milliwatt), which is a surprisingly large amount — it comparable to the solar cell on a calculator, for example. This should be more than enough power to drive complex computers — or perhaps more interestingly, trigger clusters of neurons in the brain. In theory, this glucose fuel cell will actually deprive your brain of some energy, though in practice you probably won't notice (or you might find yourself growing hungry sooner)."
While this has nothing to do with powering external machines, I still thought of "The Matrix" when reading this story...
Could this lower your blood sugar?
Nearly four months ago, I noticed that my internet connection was very sluggish. Eventually getting fed up with it, I began to seek out software that would speed up the gigabits in my router. After an hour of searching, I found what at first appeared to be a very promising piece of software. Not only did it claim it would speed up my internet connection, but that it would overclock my power supply, speed up my gigabits, and remove any viruses from my computer! "This is a fantastic opportunity that I simply can't pass up," I thought. I immediately downloaded the software and began the installation, all the while laughing like a small child. I was highly anticipating a future where the speed of my internet connection would leave everyone else's in the dust.
I was horribly, horribly naive. Immediately upon the completion of the software's installation, various messages popped up on my screen about how I needed to buy software to remove a virus that I wasn't aware I had from a software company I'd never once heard of. The strange software also blocked me from doing anything except buying the software it was advertising. Being that I was a computer whiz (I had taken a computer essentials class in high school that taught me how to use Microsoft Office, and was quite adept at accessing my Facebook account), I was immediately able to conclude that the software I'd downloaded was, in fact, a virus, and that it was slowing down my gigabits at an exponential rate. "I can't let this insanity proceed any further," I thought.
As I was often called a computer genius, I was confident at the time that I could get rid of the virus with my own two hands. I tried numerous things: restarting the computer, pressing random keys on the keyboard, throwing the mouse across the room, and even flipping an orange switch on the back of the tower and turning the computer back on. My efforts were all in vain; the virus persisted, and my gigabits were running slower than ever! "This cannot be! What is this!? I've never once seen such a vicious virus in my entire life!" I was dumbfounded that I, a computer genius, was unable to remove the virus using the methods I described. Upon coming to terms with my failure, I decided to take my computer to a PC repair shop for repair.
I drove to a nearby computer repair shop and entered the building with my computer in hand. The inside of the building was quite large, neat, and organized, and the employees all seemed very kind and knowledgeable. They laughed upon hearing my embarrassing story, and told me that they saw this kind of thing on a daily basis. They then accepted the job, and told me that in the worst case, it'd be fixed in three days from now. I left with a smile, and felt confident in my decision to leave the computer repairs to the experts.
A week later, they still hadn't called back. Visibly angry, I tried calling them countless times, but not a single time did they answer the phone. Their negligence and irresponsibility infuriated me, and sent me into a state of insanity that caused me to punch a gigantic hole in the wall. Being that I would require my computer for work soon, I decided to head over to the computer repair shop to find out exactly what the problem was.
Upon entering the building, I was shocked by the state of its interior; it looked as if a tornado had tore through the entire building! Countless broken computers were scattered all about the floor, desks were flipped over, the walls had holes in them, there was a puddle of blood on the floor, and worst of all, I saw that my computer was sitting in the middle of the room laying on its side! Absolutely unforgivable! I soon noticed one of the employees sitting behind one of the tipped over desks (the one that had previously had the cash register on top of it); he was shaking uncontrollably and sobbing. Despite being furious about my computer being tipped over, seeing him in that state still managed to make me less unforgiving. I decided to ask him what happened.
A few moments passed where the entire r
Just fill-up you tank with some corn syrup (glucose) and go. When the fluid is depleted of energy, dump it into a sewer and then get some fresh corn syrup.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
Gives new meaning to "a sugar high."
TFA leaves some important questions unanswered.
What is the byproduct/waste product of the glucose after it's been harvested of its electrons? What are the effects of these byproducts in the CSF?
If there is significant glucose in the CSF as TFA states, why is it there? What effects could its depletion cause? How fast is it replenished? Is this fast enough to provide adequate continuous power for a [cochlear implant|pacemaker|mathcoprocessor|frikkin'laser]?
I'm not opposed to cybernetic implants powered by the beer and pizza I already consume, but I sure want to know that the researchers and engineers did their homework first.
I can see the fnords!
fffffffffffft... really man
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
the conspiracy tools evicting science from america are here again, wonder why south america is growing?
they're taking your university-education jobs and paying them royally for it, because for the rest of the world science isn't something we fear...
move any equipment in jockS or chaps
One step closer...
I have seen this coming for a while. Implantable computers, now with internal power supply, Google glasses, thought recognition. The Star trek vision of the Borg, though crude and ugly, may have not been far off the mark. Smart phones may already be making us dumber. It is scary to think where this will lead.
If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
As a type 1 diabetic I plan to overclock mine. Since they cant cure my condition I may as well use the extra juice for something.
Ghost in the Shell just got a bit closer to being real. Now we just need to advance microbot and nanotechnology.
I don't want anything drinking my spinal fluid. My blood... maybe... but my spinal fluid?... nope.
I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
a new Wilford Brimley remix coming out soon.
With diabetus. -Wilferd
Please go spam somewhere else.
We will not buy your product because of spam.
There should be a -1 SPAM mod, which would take TWO points out of Karma.
Doing all these fantastic achievements using lower cost components. Every time I read an article on Slashdot, it's always talking about some amazing achievement with solar cells or batteries using a combination of gold, platinum and unobtainium. Rare earths are going to get MUCH more rare in our lifetimes.
My kingdom for a donkey!
Fuck the brain-computer device. Let me put some of these in blood to control glucose for diabetes.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
<grin>As for the Matrix, I wouldn't worry that much of the implant itself if releases under AGPL v3</grin>
Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
Why has no one made a battery which runs on body fat? Can you imagine that. THAT would fuel cyber implant uptake no end.
...for cars, and move further toward electric motors (powered by fuel cell, battery, supercapacitor, or f'ing rubber bands and string) we won't need the huge amounts of platinum used in catalytic converters.
The problem with quotes on the internet, is that nobody bothers to check their veracity. -- Abraham Lincoln
forget computers, this will make way more money as a weight loss device - dial up your artificial metabolism folks, summer is coming!
This looks quite similar to a European effort reported last year that successfully tested glucose fuel cells in rats in 2010. This MIT one can be fabricated in silicon, though, so hopefully has the potential to be cheaper.
If it doesn't have a high tolerance for alcohol and occasional other recreational medications, I'd be screwed.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
does this mean if i make myself robocop i can get my big gulp back in nyc?
We're here at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where the first test patients have escaped and started an eating rampage, mistaken for homeless people going through garbage, no one has thought to stop them. They now appear to be attacking people and eating them! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Goodie, goodie...
Just what people who have sinovial fluid problems need, something else to deplete nutrients in the spinal column.
My priest mentioned this a couple of weeks ago. My thought was that if the unexamined life is not worth living, then perhaps unconsidered knowledge is not worth knowing. Direct feed data may be a waste of time.
Sounds just like the biocells from the original Deus Ex! Jack me in and power me up!
As a diabetic, I could run a whole cluster of a neurocomputers.
Proverbs 21:19
In theory, this glucose fuel cell will actually deprive your brain of some energy, though in practice you probably won't notice (or you might find yourself growing hungry sooner)."
Could this be used for weight loss?
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