Is dirt the next viable energy source? Harvard scientists have created microbial fuel cell (MFC) batteries that get their power from naturally occurring bacteria in soil. The batteries, although a tad unconventional in appearance, consist of a five gallon bucket that uses a graphite cloth anode, a chicken wire cathode, mud with manure as the fuel source, a layer of sand to act as an ion barrier and salt water which is the electrolyte.
Each bucket battery provides enough charge to power small electronic devices or a few LED lights.
The Harvard team, with a newly formed company Lebônê, plans to use the dirt powered batteries in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 500 million people live without power.
The bacteria powered battery was one of Popular Mechanics 10 Most Brilliant Innovators of 2009.
Visit: http://www.lebone.org/
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