It would appear that red bread mould is capable of far more than ruining a good sandwich. Researchers are investigating its ability to recover rare metals from electronics and to extend the life of batteries. Indeed, from what Hack a Day could glean from the research papers adding specially treated mould to lithium ion cells and supercapacitors is quite effective, with a test battery still able to charge beyond 90% of its original charge after 200 discharges. If that isn't strange enough for you the wonderfully titled link from The Inquirer just below will teach you about a new type of solid state lithium battery, no liquid inside and a charging rate similar to a supercapacitor.
"Researchers used the carbonized fungal biomass-mineral composite in both lithium ion cells and supercapacitors. The same team earlier showed how fungi could stabilize toxic lead and uranium."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Boffins find a way to lick batteries by dropping acid @ The Inquirer
- Apple's Lack of Bug Bounty Program May Explain Why Hackers Would Help FBI @ Slashdot
- Hackers hit utility and water systems @ The Inquirer
- Patch Java now, says Oracle. Leave the chocolate until later @ The Register
- NESPi Controller @ Hack a Day
- Streaming now outsells downloads – Recording Industry Ass. of America @ The Register
- Troubled Acer is going to chop itself into three bite sized chunks @ The Register
- AMD Publishes Initial Open-Source Driver Code For Next-Gen Polaris @ Phoronix
Great but Ive been reading
Great but Ive been reading about supposed breakthroughs in battery tech for years yet it seems like nothing has actually made it to public use. We still have the same batterys as before with the battery life solution coming from reducing consumption in hardware instead. When will any of this battery tech ACTUALLY make it to consumer use?
“Just don’t inhale that
“Just don’t inhale that crap”, am I rite, guyse? Srsly, tho…mold is spore ‘shrooms..do NOT inhale that.