A battery-like device that runs on algae, light, and water can power a microprocessor chip—the brains of a computer—for up to a year, researchers report in a new study. About the size of a AA battery, the new device is built using “common, durable, inexpensive and largely recyclable materials,” they write.It also does not need to be recharged like a conventional battery would. As long as the sun is shining, the algae soak it up and produce electricity.
… and light. This is a solar panel. Cool, but not really ground breaking as the article suggests.
With embedded battery, where neither depend on mined metals, both are biodegradable and non toxic, and it’s carbon fixing (negative greenhouse gas impact). Yeah that’s fucking groundbreaking.
You don’t need a battery, just a capacitor for these levels of power draw, and you would be hard pressed to find a material that is more abundant on earth then silicon.