Friday, January 18, 2013

FOR KIDS: Your head?s battery

Fluids in the inner ear can actually power an electronic device, such as an implant

Fluids in the inner ear can actually power an electronic device, such as an implant

By Sid Perkins

Web edition: January 18, 2013

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Scientists have designed a small electronic circuit (inside the two golden squares) to monitor and use the natural battery in an animal's ear.

Credit: Mercier et al. (2012), Nature Biotechnology

A natural powerhouse in the ear of guinea pigs can run a tiny electronic device, researchers show. Human ears contain that same structure, which operates like a battery. Doctors might one day use this system to power implants. Some might monitor an individual?s blood. Others could dispense medicines.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?Your head?s battery

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/347649/title/FOR_KIDS_Your_heads_battery

joshua komisarjevsky barney frank barney frank kim richards robert hegyes mary louise parker mary louise parker

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