Scientists Implant Biofuel Cells Into Rats 164
RedmondChris writes "A team of scientists from Joseph Fourier University in France have successfully implanted biofuel cells into rats, generating 6.5 microwatts by harnessing the power of glucose. From the article: 'The device uses enzymes to harvest energy from glucose and oxygen found naturally in the body. Past attempts at using such a device in animals have failed because the enzymes have required acidic conditions or were inhibited by charged particles in the fluid surrounding cells. But Philippe Cinquin and his team from Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France, overcame these obstacles by confining selected enzymes inside graphite discs that were placed into dialysis bags. Glucose and oxygen flowed into the device, but enzymes stayed in place and catalyzed the oxidation of glucose to generate electrical energy.'"
Re:Metabolism number two (Score:3, Insightful)
More likely an insulin pump and eventually an artificial heart.
Re:Diabetics (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:effects on the host? (Score:3, Insightful)
i have to wonder what the effects on the host would be. sounds like a really complex way to generate power rath then just burning the fuel to produce steam etc.
Or getting them to turn a crank or walk on a treadmill... Just doing some exercise is the simplest, healthiest AND it helps your muscles turn into something that prospective partners would *want* to look at.
Re:Yes, but how will we tax it? (Score:4, Insightful)
This is why we need cap and trade, not a carbon tax. If I can produce energy that's carbon neutral, I'll get paid to be fat
The problem with that is that generally speaking the fatter you are, the more you fart. Since there's carbon dioxide and quite frequently methane in the resulting... expulsion... you're contributing to global warming that way.
Re:Diabetics (Score:3, Insightful)
What you failed to mention, is that he neither had any teeth, hair, money or immune system left.
(If that reminds you of a zombie, you’re not the only one.)
Re:Enough power for a pacemaker? (Score:3, Insightful)
Think outside of the USA. There is no reason to replace something (especially a pace maker) if it's functioning properly. That said, there's also no reason someone couldn't go in for an "upgrade" if they had some reason they thought their "decades-old machinery" wasn't working properly.