Call of Nature: 'Samsung' Mobile Phone Charged Using Urine
Scientists have found a new way to charge mobile phones — with human urine. They managed to generate enough power to send text messages, browse the internet and make a brief phone call.
By Sadho Ram — 17 Jul 2013, 10:52 PM — Updated about 11 years ago
Scientists powered an unspecified Samsung phone by urine
The researchers used urine to charge a cascade of microbial fuel cells and managed to charge an unspecified Samsung phone in the process.
techeye.net'The concept has been tested and it works - it’s now for us to develop and refine the process so that we can develop MFCs to fully charge a battery.' Microbial fuel cells are energy converters that turn organic matter directly into electricity by utilising the metabolism of live micro-organisms.
dailymail.co.ukWe are very excited as this is a world first, no-one has harnessed power from urine to do this so it’s an exciting discovery,” Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos said.
mirror.co.ukThey believe that their research, which was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Gates Foundation and the Technology Strategy Board, has the potential to be installed in bathrooms.
dailymail.co.ukScientists create urine-powered fuel cell that can recharge a mobile phone
The process works by creating fuel cells that mimic the function of real bacteria, which are able to produce the energy then need to live from so many waste products, which include human waste.
Image via highlightpress.comA group of Bristol University boffins have come up with a piss idea for charging their mobile phones… harnessing the energy from their own urine.
thedrum.com
Discarding all notion of keeping liquids well away from electronics the scientists claim that their technique is a ‘world first’. If rolled out commercially the tech could be installed in bathrooms to power showers, lighting, razors (and phones) with every flush.
itweb.co.zaThe key is a so-called MFC energy converter which can turn organic matter into electricity courtesy of the metabolism of micro-organisms, which generate more juice the more urine they drink.
Dr Ioannis Ieropoulos was the brains behind the study and along with a team of scientists has conducted extensive research on microbial fuel cells.
highlightpress.com"One product that we can be sure of an unending supply of is our own urine. By harnessing this power as urine passes through a cascade of microbial fuel cells, we have managed to charge a Samsung mobile phone.
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