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MIT Has Already Built Mega-Efficient Nano Batteries!

popularmechanics.com — In a surprise power development that could have implications for electronics, cars and even the military, researchers at MIT have created the world's first batteries constructed at the nano-scale by microscopic viruses.

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 29, 2008

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  • MrBabyMan, on 08/29/2008, -16/+129Unfortunately, they're currently being stored in a warehouse with the Ark of the Covenant.
  • bendiggn, on 08/28/2008, -4/+76Hurry up. Pleeeease!
    I will bring you coffee every day.
  • KMartSheriff, on 08/29/2008, -1/+53Seriously. Wake me up when these things are actually being produced (i.e.; not still in development and something we'll "see in the next couple of years"). I'm sure they'll be on the isle right across from Magnetic RAM and Duke Nukem Forever.
  • photohunter, on 08/29/2008, -2/+39We better treat those virus workers well, or they could turn on us
  • Sharky35, on 08/29/2008, -2/+31Whew- Microscopic VIRUSES are much safer than the Planet Sized VIRUSES!
  • MagicIcarus, on 08/29/2008, -2/+30MIT solar this, MIT battery that. These guys are clearly working on world domination through energy superiority.

    MIT FTW!
  • BXRWXR, on 08/29/2008, -1/+28I sneezed and I electrocuted myself.
  • Laminarcissus, on 08/29/2008, -1/+22Which will immediately be developed into 15 micron long Priuses.
  • CivicTV, on 08/14/2009, -3/+20Its labeled box of *****.
  • whatwhatwhoa, on 08/29/2008, -3/+20Get a life.
  • badmephisto, on 08/29/2008, -3/+20the super efficient batteries that will change your life FOREVER is a promise I have long heard, and got excited about. Unfortunately these things are amazing one day, and then you never hear about them again... whats up with that?
  • Carnage6669, on 08/29/2008, -3/+18wtf?
  • mickstephenson, on 08/29/2008, -1/+16Hey Che, if you want to pay for your phone yourself and get a contract with no commitment nobody's stopping you, well except apple.
  • jer21, on 08/29/2008, -2/+17What's wrong with progress?
  • groo68, on 08/29/2008, -5/+20If your being serious you're probably the stupidest person I've ever seen. please really think about it. do you really want huge batteries that last a week, do you really think that's better than tiny, long life, rechargeable batteries? Also do you think that MIT is a corporate giant? It's a technology/science college, they develop technology to push the boundaries of science, not to make money.
  • enotswhat, on 08/29/2008, -1/+15beware the Energizer Bunny lobby
  • crgnetworks, on 08/29/2008, -0/+13So if i ingest this virus I can become battery man and electrocute people!?
  • digitizit, on 08/29/2008, -2/+13I welcome our tech savvy, microscopic virus overlords.
  • d0nkeym0nkey, on 08/29/2008, -4/+14Right next to the crystal skull :(
  • insanebrain, on 08/29/2008, -3/+12stupidity in full view.
  • FTWmovin2canada, on 08/29/2008, -2/+11The turn around time from prototype to full production takes a few years. Wait until 2012 before you complain.
  • 0firefly0, on 08/29/2008, -0/+9hi smith
  • FTWmovin2canada, on 08/29/2008, -2/+10No, the energy density of the material is what they are trying to advance.
  • aolshove, on 08/29/2008, -2/+10I can see the headlines now: "8/29/2015: Terrorists vaccinate MIT nano solution vats!"
  • ashwinmudigonda, on 08/29/2008, -1/+9MIT for prez. The world would be a better place.
  • ExRe, on 08/29/2008, -0/+8"They can't reproduce. You see, all of the dinosaurs on this island are female."
  • megaton, on 08/29/2008, -3/+10"Mega-Efficient Nano Batteries!"

    There is nothing in the article about efficiency. I think jaybol mistakenly thinks "nano" = "efficient batteries", where the reality is "nano" = "efficient MANUFACTURE OF batteries", which just means cheaper batteries. And since I'd rather see a battery run 20x longer than cost 20x less, I'll continue to hold my breath...
  • hyperionshift, on 08/29/2008, -4/+11What about Shuffle and Touch batteries?
  • SadMartigan, on 11/25/2008, -2/+9I hope this trend of 'being stupid on purpose' doesn't become the new meme for comments on the internet.
  • inactive, on 08/29/2008, -3/+10Yep, MIT is many years behind a pompous Digg user who has no credentials at all.
  • NJank, on 08/29/2008, -1/+8it's called exaggeration and idyllic hopefulness. see popular science for more examples.
  • jave8u, on 08/29/2008, -1/+7"The M13 viruses used by the team can't reproduce by themselves and are only capable of infecting bacteria."

    Until the viruses change and kill us all! :o And maybe then create a race of artificially intelligent computer-controlled machines bent on the extermination of the human race.
  • nullcodes, on 08/29/2008, -1/+7Now viruses and bacteria can have iPods too.

    Btw, does anyone have an issue here with viruses being exploited in sweat shops to turn out these nano batteries? Plus they're taking jobs away .. not only do viruses give me a cold .. they're also going to take my job?
  • diggonit, on 08/29/2008, -0/+6Why is your laptop so slow?
    My microviruses are getting old.
  • ExRe, on 08/29/2008, -0/+6It is a spam bot, or a really stupid human spammer.
  • phoomp, on 08/29/2008, -1/+6Not to worry ... Duracell will kybosh this as soon as possible.
  • inactive, on 08/29/2008, -0/+5on a smiting holiday.
    the earth isn't going to quake itself you know.
  • inactive, on 08/29/2008, -0/+5is steven hawkins a new country singer or something? and why would you beat him?
  • bridgeyman, on 08/29/2008, -0/+5Yes
  • Markp487, on 08/29/2008, -0/+5Read the last sentence. "... then we have to think about how do you scale it." This is always the problem and why a lot of "nano technology breakthroughs" go no where.
  • CivicTV, on 08/14/2009, -0/+4Man, dont read that article high. My minds been blown.
  • DrDragun, on 08/29/2008, -0/+4Crap, inefficient cars were the only thing holding the amoeba society down. Now we're doomed.
  • djholybolt, on 08/29/2008, -1/+5Wow... That was very unessary. You do know that you can hold onto a cell phone and use it for 5+ years as long as you take care of it(or have insurance on it) without having to upgrade. The upgrade option is always up to the customer. The only way that the customer would be forced into an upgrade was if the company's platform has changed and required them to upgrade to keep the service and have a working phone.

    Besides that, what MIT is doing doesn't just apply to cell phones.. it applies to all electronic devices that depend on a battery. This allows the manufacturers of the devices to spend less money on better technology and even help them with better design methods.

    Please read the articles before spouting off on random tangents.
  • KidA2pt0, on 08/29/2008, -0/+4Exactly, just like the oil companies snuffed GMs electric car back in the early 90's, battery companies will stifle the research needed to get this out the door quickly. We won't see this till we are 'desperately' in need of it, right now we just 'really' need it.
    If we've learned anything from those Stride gum commercials it that things that last longer sell less units as time progresses, and also initially cost you out the nose.
  • Digglet69, on 08/30/2008, -0/+3making uber efficient nano batteries :/

  • the11ave, on 08/29/2008, -0/+3I can see the "I am legend" sort of day coming while we modify viruses. Who knows what the hell these viruses are capable of. If they are alive, they might be able to mutate and reproduce themselves. Scary!
  • homercles337, on 08/29/2008, -0/+3Yea, i get a nice warm feeling knowing that i can just walk across campus and probably meet a lot of these people. I think i learn more about what is happening in labs here via Digg than with talking with colleagues. Im just a staff scientist though, not faculty.
  • FeloniusMonkey, on 08/29/2008, -0/+3I was gonna say, "this is the best thing since sliced bread"... but sliced bread ain't even in the same league as this. I wouldn't mind having to tear apart chunks of bread for all my future sandwiches if I could get one of these nano batteries to power my car!
  • loneBoat, on 08/29/2008, -0/+3One time when I was a kid I licked the battery acid that came out of my toy when one of the batteries exploded. I'm glad batteries weren't made with viruses back then, because then I'd have burnt my tongue AND gotten sick.

    PS I learned my lesson, and I do not lick battery acid any more.
  • djholybolt, on 08/29/2008, -0/+3fail on epic proportions
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