MIT RESEARCHERS BUILD BATTERY THAT RUNS WITH HELP OF COMMON VIRUS

It may seem strange, but before too long, you could be running everything from your computer to your car on, get this: a virus.

That’s because researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a battery that runs with the help of a common virus known as “M13″ which infects only bacteria.

According to National Geographic, the virus powered battery rivals the state-of-the-art rechargeable models now powering personal electronics and hybrid vehicles.

The researchers modified the M13 virus… to grow proteins on its surface that attract amorphous iron phosphate. The result: Wires just nanometers thick of the material, which is cheaper and environmentally friendlier than ones currently used to make electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

The scientists also programmed the virus so that one end became sticky to carbon nanotubes, which are extraordinarily good conductors of electricity. Electrons easily travel along the carbon nanotubes to the amorphous iron phosphate networks, transferring energy in a very short time.

Using these ingredients, the researchers devised coin-sized batteries comparable in performance to commercial lithium-ion batteries.

Naturally, the envirolitists will be holding a massive, drug-laden party once they hear about this.

This new eco-friendly battery offers them yet another way to think they’re saving the earth while doing nothing more than playing on their Mac Book and driving their Prius. Just wait until they get to tell all the other envirolitists at the next Phish concert.

Photo: National Geographic