Heat-Harvested Power

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An Ear-Powered BatteryResearchers at Harvard and MIT have tapped into the power of a natural electrochemical gradient found within the inner ear to power a wireless transmitter. Pictured here is an image of a chip with a radio transmitter draws power from an ion-filled chamber buried within the mammalian ear. Importantly, the chip is able to generate power without impairing the hearing of the subject. In an experiment, the device was able to power a transmitter for five hours. Image: Patrick P. Mercier/MIT.