Power from blood could lead to 'human batteries'

The Sydney Morning Herald. ^ | August 4 2003

[yonif]

A device that produces electricity from blood could be used to turn people into "human batteries".

Researchers in Japan are developing a method of drawing power from blood glucose, mimicking the way the body generates energy from food.

Theoretically, it could allow a person to pump out 100 watts - enough to illuminate a light bulb.

But that would entail converting all the food eaten by the individual into electricity. In practice, less power would be generated since food is needed by the body.

However the scientists say the "bio-nano" generator could be used to run devices embedded in the body, or sugar-fed robots.

The team at electronics giant Panasonic's Nanotechnology Research Laboratory near Kyoto has so far only managed to produce very low power levels.

But the scientists ultimately expect to gain much greater performance from the device.

The battery is based on an enzyme capable of stripping glucose of its electrons, The Engineer magazine reported.

Dr Kazuo Eda, heading the research, said: "It is like the metabolism of food. Human bodies can process glucose and obtain energy. When glucose is oxidised, electrons can be obtained."

He believed bio-nano fuel cells were the next step for researchers after generators powered by hydrogen, natural gas and methanol now being developed for the car and energy industries.

[Free Vulcan]

WE ARE THE BORG.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

[sourcery]

OK, but I still think the idea of humans as batteries needed by "the machines" (the basic premise of The Matrix) is ridiculous. It would take far more energy per human to operate the "battery farm" than would be harvestable from each human battery unit.

But I liked the movie anyway.

[sourcery]

"No Blood for Blood!"

Try: "No oil for Blood!"

[AndrewC]

Light bulbs? I'm sure diabetics could use help and wouldn't care if a bulb was lit or not.

[AndrewC]

I'm sorry, I didn't read your post before I commented. We think alike.

[MayDay72]

"...There are fields, endless fields, where human beings are no longer born. We are grown. For the longest time, I wouldn't believe it, then I saw the fields with my own eyes. Watched them liquify the dead and introveniously to the living..." -Morpheus

"...Whoa..." -Neo

[Aarchaeus]

Finally, a possibility of a good use for liberals!

[disclaimer]

Sounds like this could be used to regulate blood sugar for diabetics.

[upchuck]

WOW, this is totally cool!! I can pig out big time, loose weight and sell the excess energy to the electric company. Where do I sign up?

[Domestic Church]

"This will become the new weight loss fad."

Think of the money it will churn for the PT Barnums...

...until is causes an upswing of insulin problems.

[adx]

Cool. Wonder if they can make a pacemaker powered off of this? Or, some new types of implants, for that matter?

[weikel]

A device that produces electricity from blood could be used to turn people into "human batteries". I guess the matrix is not so far fetched...

[weikel]

Unfortunately no one can be told what the matrix is.

[Xenalyte]

There is no spoon.