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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)."
Could this lower your blood sugar?
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."
>>>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! "
MyCleanPC can't fix stupid.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
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!
I can not believe that there is no one here on /. who could not figure out who this spamming moron is and send Guido over to his house to break his legs.
Why is it that most of the people that I encounter seem to have been shat from the Sphincter of Mediocrity?
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
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.
its a conspiracy to make you eat more, driving up food prices.
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.
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.
forget computers, this will make way more money as a weight loss device - dial up your artificial metabolism folks, summer is coming!
Well... no. I didn't see his post, and didn't even notice it existed before seeing yours. So Slashdot moderation system is already doing a decent enough job of getting rid of his crap, without any need to "stop" him.
Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
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.
Yeah, and think of all of the people without brains. These scientists sure are not very bright to research something so useless.