Posted on 04/08/2006 6:08:14 AM PDT by saganite
Normally, one would associate the word virus with something negative, whether it is a malfunctioning desktop computer or a sickness. However, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have "trained" viruses in a lab to create a miniature battery.
By manipulating a few genes within the virus, researchers were able to get the organism to grow and then assemble itself into a functional electronic device. They hope to be able to build a battery that could be as small as a grain of rice.
Two opposite electrodes -- or conductors -- form the structure of a battery, called an anode and a cathode. These are separated by something called an electrolyte, a liquid of gel-like substance that contains ions and can conduct electricity.
In the process created by MIT researchers, the viruses were engineered to create the anode by collecting cobalt oxide and gold. Since these viruses have a negative charge, they are then layered between oppositely charged synthetic polymers to create thin sheets.
Batteries made with this process could store two to three times the energy of traditional batteries that size, meaning a longer-lasting charge. While the researchers did not specify any early applications of the technology, it would likely first appear in Defense Department work. The project was funded by the Army Research Office, MIT said.
The group's work is expected to appear in this week's issue of Science.
(USING AHNOLDS VOICE): "Then in 2016 the virus batteries built by MIT became self-aware and started to eat everything on the planet...."
And you thought those damn AAA's were hard to pry out of the remote.
Well, that pesky little "666" thingee is almost ready....
This is what Queen Hillary wanted us ALL to have:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=health&id=3974003&ft=print
This one could solve the "illegal immigrant" ID problem:
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,55999,00.html
And these are the guys are the "chip leaders", and it looks like they are "all-in"...
http://www.adsx.com/
Just think, no more "swiping", just scan!!....uh...don't have one???....you must be "illegal" and "uneligible".....OBTW, if it's good enough for the "illegals",the same database can be used for us "regulars", and after all.....it's for the "children"..
That's a very interesting observation if I understand you correctly. Are you saying this could be used as the power for such devices?
Yep !!
If viruses can be trained, why the heck don't they train them to stop making people sick?
virii ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.