Bill Gates invests in battery project that works on urine
Synopsis
Researchers from the University of the West of England have been working on discovering different ways to power a mobile battery for the last few years. And they have currently made a breakthrough, of sorts.
The technology will derive electricity from human urine via microbial fuel cells. Half a litre of urine will be capable of powering the battery for six hours.
If the research turns out to be successful, it will be a big revolution in those places where pee is abundant, but infrastructure is missing. And also in emergency situations.
The project was initiated in 2011 with a seed fund of $1,00,000, but with the investors like Bill Gates pooling in, researchers expect the technology to reach individuals very soon.
The fuel cells are developed in a way that they contain living microorganisms similar to that, which are found in the human gut.
When urine samples are processed and broken down, electrons are produced, which can be used to generate electricity.