Algae batteries

Dr Paolo Bombelli, University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry

[@josephdvid6]

It seems like a majority of the power is coming from the electrochemical difference between the anode and cathode because their made of different materials with different electronegativities, rather than from the actual algae itself.

[@Ewr42]

amazing, but how does it work? just stick electrodes into algae that's sealed in a jar?

[@Ewr42]

@꧁༺just another guy༻꧂ well, not sure that I get your point, but there's no shame in admitting one's ignorance of the methods used to make it work, even if they can conceive applications of it and relate it to other phenomena and technologies.. I'd even say that it too is a demonstration of intelligence, tho a more subtle one. Intelectual honesty is extremely underrated Tho I wouldn't call myself intelligent Creative sure, but intelligence is too great of an adjective and I do try my best to refrain from that narcissistic egomaniacal arrogance Btw, my interpretation is that it really is as simple as that, tho I'm unsure of the kind of electrodes needed, if it needs a constant load, and sealing the jar seems quite honestly dumb because photosynthesis obviously needs co2 and the algae also needs to breathe.. I was thinking ahead about using it in sealed ecospheres, which actually might work bc respiration produces co2 whilst consuming the oxygen, I'm just unsure about the balancing of the chemical equations, it'd certainly limit the amount of algae tho, possibly suffocating them all to death, and most certainly limiting its output Btw, there's a video of a guy charging an iphone 7 with just 8 cells, but it uses a different process with anaerobic bacteria involved too

[@josephdvid6]

reduction, oxidation, photosynthesis. But this device is actually very misleading in my opinion because it actually works mostly as a galvanic battery.

[@xtraflo]

I've been thinking about this for Years! I'm wondering if have a Tub sized amount of this Algae plugged into Batteries? How much you would need and how long it would take to charge something. Seems like a worth while effort!

[@thedanishpk]

looks like a microbial fuel cell with algal biocathode

[@Kiyarose3999]

Seeing those Algae covered strands he pulled out of the water, makes me wonder if Algae could be used to transport Electricity perhaps in transparent cables phyto-conductors. So we can avoid Copper wire. One day hopefully(soon) 🌻✊🏽🌎a rapid Transition to a Decentralised Carbon Neg Algae Based Economy, is our ONLY hope of permanently sequestering the excess atmospheric CO2 in the next 5 years, if it’s not too late already!.

[@ernestoduenas2466]

I wouldn't have imagined of such thing but it make sense

[@jakobporenta]

how would you prevent short-circuiting?

[@SaronTekle-kw2kp]

But is it possible to produce a lot of energy and electricity to cover the need of oil...it will definitely need more space and not possibly use it for large scale

[@lopiklop]

Journalist: "So this is going to save Africa?"

[@teresashinkansen9402]

Is this for real? because this totally seems like a spoof the onion style.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

You bet your Madison WI spoof paper this is for real. Microalgae can store 100 gigatons of co2 per year also!! Most fossil fuel is from algae - oldest life form on Earth. Let's hop to it.

[@lopiklop]

sometimes it's hard to know because stuff like this is under NDA. Maybe this entire thing is just a corporate espionage psyop?

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

my response got censored. Micro Algae can sequester 100 gigatons of CO2 a year! Not only is algae real but it's the only thing that can save life on Earth