Sony Runs Walkman Off Sugar-Based Bio Battery

StonyandCher writes "Sony has created a battery that produces electricity by breaking down sugar. The bio cell, which measures 39 millimeters cubed, delivers 50mW — a world record for such a cell, according to the company. 'In the bio cell sugar-digesting enzymes at the anode extract electrons and hydrogen ions from the glucose. The hydrogen ions pass through a membrane separator to the cathode where they absorb oxygen from the air to produce water as a byproduct. The electrons flow around the circuit outside the device producing the electricity needed to power it.'"

ANOTHER FOOD-BASED FUEL CELL

[Mr.Fork]

I hate be a bit of a troll on this but Economists are already warning about food-based sources for fuel. Using grains to create ethanol could have a negative impact on the food market by driving up prices - especially for poor countries. Now Sony, in their infinate capatilsitic wisdom, have created a way to power a device, using suger. Nice. So in 15 years down the road, families around the world start starving so I can power my power-hungry laptop with a few pounds of suger, and dump a tonne of ehtanol into my gas guzzling HUMMER to get 10MPG. It's nice to know that my own personal power needs can determine whether or not the worlds poor can feed themselves. It's time to move away from this as an alternative power source because it's the 'right thing to do.'

Re:ANOTHER FOOD-BASED FUEL CELL

[iggymanz]

sugar doesn't have to come from grains, that's the stupid way. All plant cellulose is a bunch of sugars hooked end to end.

Food subsidies

[vlad_petric]

If food prices are driven up, many poor countries are in fact going to benefit. With their very cheap labor, they could, at least in theory, produce cheap food and even export it. However, food subsidies in the developed world essentially kills their markets. Not only are they not able to export, they end up importing cheaper, subsidized food.

(Technical) Art Imitates Life

[MenTaLguY]

I think this reflects a trend that we're seeing more of lately: technology using materials and processes taken from biology. This shouldn't be too surprising, as biology is optimized for the particular physics and chemistry of our universe.

Re:Battery Product Name?

[mr_mischief]

Oh, you'll get plenty of work out of a teenager on a sugar rush. It just won't necessarily be the work you asked him to do, and might not have any useful end result.