Virus-Built Wearable Batteries Could Power Military - Polidicks

[quote]Batteries, built by viruses, could someday be sprayed onto military uniforms as wearable power sources. Teams of researchers, one from MIT, one from the University of Maryland, have used two different viruses to create the cathode and anode for a lithium ion battery. If the Maryland research pans out, the parts for lithium ion batteries could be grown in and harvested from tobacco plants. The MIT research, meanwhile, could produce lithium ion batteries that could be woven into clothing to power a wide range of electronic devices, from unmanned aerial vehicles to cell phones. "Typical soldiers have to carry several pounds of batteries. But if you could turn their clothing into a battery pack, they could drop a lot of weight," said Mark Allen, a postdoc in Angela Belcher's lab at MIT. "The same could be true for frequent business travelers, the road warriors."[/quote] [URL=http://news.discovery.com/tech/virus-built-batteries.html]Source[/URL] :science:

One step closer to "nanosuits".

[img]http://www.wallpaperez.info/wallpaper/games/m/Crysis-US-Nanosuit-1324.jpg[/img] :v:

I remember hearing about bacteria powered batteries.

This takes an 8 on my really-fucking-cool meter.

It's always either MIT or DARPA that does this kind of awesome stuff :v:

Civilian use for this would be fucking amazing too, my phone would never die on me again, I'd just plug it into my shirt and life would be good.

God damnit science I fucking love you, this makes me want to go into virology now.

What? Lithium is a nasty shit. It burns well when set on fire, and reacts with water. I really wouldn't like lithium woven into my clothes, mainly when in combat situation. [editline]02:25PM[/editline] And viruses can't ever build anything. They might alter the plant, to build what you need, but can't do anything themselves.

What they mean is that the virus infects the host cell and commandeers the machinery to manufacture the compound needed. Micro fabrication may be on the horizon gents :science:

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;24362129]What? Lithium is a nasty shit. It burns well when set on fire, and reacts with water. I really wouldn't like lithium woven into my clothes, mainly when in combat situation. [editline]02:25PM[/editline] And viruses can't ever build anything. They might alter the plant, to build what you need, but can't do anything themselves.[/QUOTE] Learn to read, dipstick. The article says the lithium ion [b]batteries[/b] would be woven into the fabric, not the lithium itself.

awesome. channel the resources used to produce cigarettes into the military, and use the remaining resources to grow marijuana for civilliam use! two birds with one stone! :eng101:

[QUOTE=Laissez!Laissez!Laissez!;24362233]awesome. channel the resources used to produce cigarettes into the military, and use the remaining resources to grow [b]marijuana[/b] for civilliam use! two birds with one [b]stone![/b] :eng101:[/QUOTE] Oooh I see what you did there.

[QUOTE=Laissez!Laissez!Laissez!;24362233]awesome. channel the resources used to produce cigarettes into the military, and use the remaining resources to grow marijuana for civilliam use! two birds with one stone! :eng101:[/QUOTE] ...I can tell you didn't read the article, cause that has nothing to do with it.

[QUOTE=bravehat;24362262]...I can tell you didn't read the article, cause that has nothing to do with it.[/QUOTE] but it was so relevant to the [B][U]article title[/U][/B]! :tinfoil:

[QUOTE=Nekrietns;24362219]Learn to read, dipstick. The article says the lithium ion [b]batteries[/b] would be woven into the fabric, not the lithium itself.[/QUOTE] Because batteries are indestructible :downs: Either they will be cumbersome and will beat the point of not using external cumbersome batteries, or they will be prone to damage by physical stress or heat. I already see soldier who felt down throw away his vest because his battery torn.

[QUOTE=Laissez!Laissez!Laissez!;24362233]awesome. channel the resources used to produce cigarettes into the military, and use the remaining resources to grow marijuana for civilliam use! two birds with one stone! :pseudo:[/QUOTE] fixed your post

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;24362564]Because batteries are indestructible :downs: Either they will be cumbersome and will beat the point of not using external cumbersome batteries, or they will be prone to damage by physical stress or heat. I already see soldier who felt down throw away his vest because his battery torn.[/QUOTE] No dude, the Lithium isn't woven into the fabric, it's the separate viruses that act as the poles of the batteries and exchange charge particles between each other, the cells hold the lithium as lithium compounds, not raw lithium. So if anythings up the viruses denature and the battery dies, no fire or anything, all they have to do is replace the gear and strip the viruses for lithium to reuse, fairly safe if I'm right.

If so, then it's neat.

Actually, the concept of "battery" comes from the aztecs. Back during the dark ages they had a common sport where people ran around batting lizards with a bat shaped like a dice, due to the fact that the Aztecs invented the first casino.

[QUOTE=Clifford Clavin;24365135]Actually, the concept of "battery" comes from the aztecs. Back during the dark ages they had a common sport where people ran around batting lizards with a bat shaped like a dice, [b]due to the fact that the Aztecs invented the first casino.[/b][/QUOTE] What the fuck did I just read?

Strength activated

I have the strenght to power military!

What if it rains?

[QUOTE=JustGman;24435267]What if it rains?[/QUOTE] We get all wet.

[QUOTE=DrLuke;24435501]We get all wet.[/QUOTE] :q:

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;24435614]:q:[/QUOTE] :ohdear:

Cool, my suit uses bacteria batteries! One problem though : swallowing these batteries causes instant cancer, followed by a painful death. I wouldn't be surprised about the cancer part, really.