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As we all know, batteries don't last forever. And when the flashlight dims you may be left with a double handful of toxic heavy metals to get rid of somehow. Until very recently mercury has been the main villain, but in addition to mercury, other hazardous metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and silver lurk in those little cylinders.
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Even the most environmentally-conscious among us use batteries containing toxic substances on a daily basis and most fuel cells and batteries contain a core of heavy metals, which are expensive and pollute the environment. Now UK chemists have discovered a property in the mushroom enzyme "Laccase" that could revolutionize the way fuel cells are produced. They discovered that the substance is every bit as effective as a catalyst on fuel cell electrodes as platinum.
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This new light source material can generate electricity 24/7 for 20+ years. The technology aims to replace batteries, and can generate low-cost electricity for everything from micro devices to utility applications. It has groundbreaking implications and the potential to turn the battery business upside down.
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Forget about rechargeable batteries that are plugged to a nearby electrical outlet - there are now Pee Powered batteries that are being tested in Japan. Dubbed the NoPoPo (Non-Pollution Power) Aqua Batteries, these will come in AA and AAA form factors. They are environmentally friendly and do not contain mercury or other harmful materials.
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More than 15 billion batteries are thrown away each year, and with the increasing demand for portable power by electronic devices, the battery has not caught up with the needs of modern life.
Traditional rechargeable batteries have never been truly portable as they are dependent on chargers or adaptors, and so most consumers prefer single use alkaline cells.
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People are using more and more household batteries. The average person owns about two button batteries, ten normal (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, etc.) batteries, and throws out about eight household batteries per year. About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. averaging about 32 per family or ten per person. In the past 150 years the battery has had only an eightfold improvement in performance while silicon-based electronics improve that much every six years. Today’s conventional batteries lose their power even when the device is not in use.
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