Researchers have used a widespread species of blue-green algae to power a microprocessor continuously for a year – and counting – using nothing but ambient light and water. Their system has potential as a reliable and renewable way to power small devices.<\/p>\n
The system, comparable in size to an AA battery, contains a type of non-toxic algae called Synechocystis that naturally harvests energy from the sun through photosynthesis. The tiny electrical current this generates then interacts with an aluminium electrode and is used to power a microprocessor.<\/p>\n
The system is made of common, inexpensive and largely recyclable materials. This means it could easily be replicated hundreds of thousands of times to power large numbers of small devices as part of the Internet of Things. The researchers say it is likely to be most useful in off-grid situations or remote locations, where small amounts of power can be very beneficial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe growing Internet of Things needs an increasing amount of power, and we think this will have to come from systems that can generate energy, rather than simply store it like batteries,\u201d said Professor Christopher Howe in the University of Cambridge\u2019s Department of Biochemistry, joint senior author of the paper.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOur photosynthetic device doesn\u2019t run down the way a battery does because it\u2019s continually using light as the energy source.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Imagine you can power up your computer with light and algae — Martina Grom ☁️ 🏃♀️ ☮️ #bekind (@magrom) May 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n
Algae-powered computing: scientists create reliable and renewable biological photovoltaic cell | University of Cambridge https:\/\/t.co\/pw7rRW37KF<\/a><\/p>\n