Have you heard the warning that you should not be under a tree during a thunder storm? Have you wondered why? Well, Washington University's Babak Parviz is putting the answer to your wonder to use. For a long time, scientists have known that plants could conduct electricity. This sounds great for the energy crisis we have right now right? No, a Maple tree only generates a measly few hundred millivolts worth of electricity, barely enough to power a small, simple circuit, such as to power a LED light. The scientists built a device to amplify the voltage. They built something sinilar to a capacitor. It collects the volts, some as little as 20 millivolts and builds it up to as much as 1.1 volts, enough to run small sensors. The rig used to collect the electricity from the trees is different from a battery, but the two electrodes (zinc and copper) are the same. What practical use does this have? This electricity can run sensors that detect forest fires, an event that is increasing in these warmer times.
I think this is an excellent idea, though it does not seem like a practical one. yes, it can run sensors that detect forest fires, and that is a good thing of course, but I believe this could only be kept there. This could maybe run sensors to detect illigal logging. Other than that, there isn't much potential.
This article can be found by clicking on the followig link: http://www.livescience.com/environment/090915-trees-electricity.html
I think this is an excellent idea, though it does not seem like a practical one. yes, it can run sensors that detect forest fires, and that is a good thing of course, but I believe this could only be kept there. This could maybe run sensors to detect illigal logging. Other than that, there isn't much potential.
This article can be found by clicking on the followig link: http://www.livescience.com/environment/090915-trees-electricity.html
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