spinach cells powering electronic devices...spinach powered house.. links

[dogindia]

mit research

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6434

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/spinach-0915.htm

lhttp://www.azonano.com/news_old.asp?newsID=339



house design by seattle firm wins award.

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/3/21/102245/749

just a concept yet toward real electric power for houses.

[glitch]

1. Very very cool. Thanks for posting! nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Popeye was right! Fascinating technology, hope it can be made practical

Surprised that the prototype lasts as long as 3 weeks:

(from the first link)
...The system is far from perfect, however. The peptides used only keep the protein complex stable for about three weeks and the cells convert only 12% of light to electrical charge. But Zhang says efficiency could be boosted dramatically by layering numerous cells on top of one another, as they will still let some light through.

"This is an interesting piece of basic scientific research," says Devens Gust, at Arizona State University. "However, it is a long way from this experimental device to any practical applications."

Gust says keeping the system stable and improving the efficiency of photon conversion will be crucial to future success.

[KlatooBNikto]

3. My kids are going to thank these scientists for getting the spinach

out of the dinner table.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Funny - long ago when my little brother and I were kids,

we FOUGHT over the spinach, because we believed PopEye! They weren't SERIOUS fights, there was a lot of laughing, but spinach never went begging. That was one bowl that was always empty at the end of dinner. I've often wondered if spinach growers had a special affection for the little squint-eyed sailor with the ballooned forearms and the weird taste in women.

[papau]

4. But they need to try the experiment with a little lemon juice and salt!

maybe even boiled or steamed in garlic water!

And try adding a lttle Feta cheese!

:-)

[Pool Hall Ace]

5. Fascinating! Thanks for posting.

:hi:

[BanzaiBonnie]

7. Thanks for posting this and additional info

I posted about the spinach powered house last week. I think it's a fabulous idea. I just couldn't find this forum. Who would have thought it was under the politics and issues forum.

Dammit! Why can't we be investing in more technology instead of spinning our wheels looking for more oil?

[LiberalEsto]

8. This explains Popeye

At last I understand!