Oh, this? Just some teenage girls from Africa who invented a urine-powered generator.

on edit: looks like some of the more scientisty types on du have pointed out that the process is not very efficient for making electricity and is best used for processing waste.... well I say, who gives a shit!! these girls are still totally awesome either way....

....of course, I am just kidding, the good science on the part of the folks posting here is actually very welcomed, since I have only basic knowledge of this sort of thing - thanks



How's this for an innovative startup: four African girls — the eldest of which is just fifteen years old — have worked together to invent a generator that's powered by urine. The group presented their creation at this year's Maker Faire Africa, and it's so freaking brilliant it makes me want travel back in time and punch 15-year-old me right in the solar plexus.

The Next Web lays out how it works:

Urine is put into an electrolytic cell, which cracks the urea into nitrogen, water, and hydrogen.
The hydrogen goes into a water filter for purification, which then gets pushed into the gas cylinder.
The gas cylinder pushes hydrogen into a cylinder of liquid borax, which is used to remove the moisture from the hydrogen gas.
This purified hydrogen gas is pushed into the generator.

1 Liter of urine gives you 6 hours of electricity.

link: http://io9.com/5958887/oh-this-just-some-teenage-girls-from-africa-who-invented-a-urine+powered-generator