Technology Harvests Energy from Within a Cockroach - Polidicks

[release] If we can harvest energy from within the body, we may spur the development of a new generation of implantable devices that can work as long as the patient is alive and not require bulky batteries, a typical stumbling block for biomedical engineers. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University managed to generate electricity from naturally occurring chemicals within the abdomen of the false death’s head cockroach. The researchers envision sensor-enabled roaches to perform odd jobs, but we’re instinctively terrified of the possibility of roaches controlled externally by a real human. We prefer to see this kind of technology powering an implantable defibrillator that doesn’t have to be changed every ten or so years. From the announcement: The key to converting the chemical energy is using enzymes in series at the anode. The first enzyme breaks the sugar, trehalose, which a cockroach constantly produces from its food, into two simpler sugars, called monosaccharides. The second enzyme oxidizes the monosaccharides, releasing electrons. The current flows as electrons are drawn to the cathode, where oxygen from air takes up the electrons and is reduced to water. After testing the system using trehalose solutions, prototype electrodes were inserted in a blood sinus in the abdomen of a female cockroach, away from critical internal organs. “Insects have an open circulatory system so the blood is not under much pressure,” Ritzmann explained. “So, unlike say a vertebrate, where if you pushed a probe into a vein or worse an artery (which is very high pressure) blood does not come out at any pressure. So, basically, this is really pretty benign. In fact, it is not unusual for the insect to right itself and walk or run away afterward.” The researchers found the cockroaches suffered no long-term damage, which bodes well for long-term use. To determine the output of the fuel cell, the group used an instrument called a potentiostat. Maximum power density reached nearly 100 microwatts per square centimeter at 0.2 volts. Maximum current density was about 450 microamps per square centimeter. The study was five years in the making. Progress stalled for nearly a year due to difficulties with trehalase – the first enzyme used in the series. Lee suggested they have the trehalase gene chemically synthesized to generate an expression plasmid, which is a DNA molecule separate from chromosomal DNA, to allow the production of large quantities of purified enzyme from Escherichia coli. “Michelle then began collecting enzyme that proved to have much higher specific activities than those obtained from commercial sources,” Lee said. “The new enzyme led to success.”[/release] [url]http://medgadget.com/2012/02/technology-harvests-energy-from-within-a-cockroach.html[/url] And the next thing we'll know is that some mad scientist is using them.

Goes to a technology lab to implant a power cable

Inb4 The Matrix. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Meme Reply" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=maurits150;34570006]Inb4 The Matrix.[/QUOTE] And then mankind was batteries

Remote controlled cockroaches reminds me of that scene from The Fifth Element. Since I'm on my phone, would someone be kind enough to post it?

That's some interesting chemical shit they got going on..

power generation for after the nuclear apocalypse fuck yeah

Over charging your batteries will literally make your head explode.

[QUOTE=smeismastger;34570384]And then mankind was batteries[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://proliberty.com/observer/batterymorpheus.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=smeismastger;34570384]And then mankind was batteries[/QUOTE] Suddenly phones are a lot more useful without them running out of power.

[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;34573521]Suddenly phones are a lot more useful without them running out of power.[/QUOTE] You would not be so pleased when your phone is sucking years of life from you.

Finally. A reason to keep those bastards alive.

[QUOTE=Civil;34573899]You would not be so pleased when your phone is sucking years of life from you.[/QUOTE] You do understand that the only thing this technology does is convert chemical fuel into electrical energy on a microscopic scale? It won't age you. If anything, it will benefit your health by consuming excess calories.

This is actually pretty cool, the practical applications for this could be endless.

Powering towns with 1 roach. That would be awesome :v:

Yes improve the already indestructable cockroaches!

Amazing. I'm actually employed by a Swedish private company developing The Aros Heart (or Scandinavian Real Heart), a new artificial heart that can replace your current heart permanently and functions just like the real heart, without 300kg of bulky pumping equipment that you have to drag behind you. One of the main problems is the energy supply for it. The current solution is to always walk around with a belt of batteries that needs to be recharged every day or so, but if they perfect this conversion of chemical energy to electrical/mechanical it would be great for patients with the Aros Heart as they would be able to live a normal life without having to worry about their battery life all the time.

[QUOTE=WTFTY;34574952]Yes improve the already indestructable cockroaches![/QUOTE] We should make body armor out of the fucking things they're so durable

Does that mean fat people will be usable for generating massive amounts of energy? :v:

Wait, so this would mean everybody could eat whatever the fuck they want, convert their excess calories and then charge their iPhones/Androids with cake? Sweet...

[QUOTE=Sgt. Lulz;34575097]Does that mean fat people will be usable for generating massive amounts of energy? :v:[/QUOTE] Gives burning fat a whole new meaning

I'm gonna power my computer... WITH ROACHES!

Does this mean I can use infants to power my communist propaganda antenna?

Where's that 4chan screenshot about that guy wanting to use his sperm to power his internet

blah blah augmented blah never asked for this blah blah

[QUOTE=dass;34574898]Powering towns with 1 roach. That would be awesome :v:[/QUOTE] Yes but then the other roaches will protest this and by roaches I mean [IMG]http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bfae553ef01156e4c9aa6970c-800wi[/IMG]

The sad thing is how this will probably disappear and never be heard from again

[QUOTE=smeismastger;34570384]And then mankind was batteries[/QUOTE] [B]No smeismastger,[/B] [B]YOU ARE THE BATTERIES.[/B] On a much more serious note, this sort of technology has HUGE potential. I've always envisioned piezoelectric cells attached to the heart generating electricity to be used by an artificial limb, or some sort of electric cell generating power from natural chemicals in the bloodstream. Quite fascinating what sort of technologies we will have in twenty years.

[QUOTE=maurits150;34570006]Inb4 The Matrix. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Meme Reply" - Craptasket))[/highlight][/QUOTE]Red cockroach or blue cockroach?

Maybe Plug a laptop into a tree?