4 ms·
if it's what i think they are, they are essentially batteries with a radioactive source. It relies on the gradual decay of the source to create energy which is
by marshmallow_12 6y ago
if it's what i think they are, they are essentially batteries with a radioactive source. It relies on the gradual decay of the source to create energy which is somehow harnessed and used as a power source. I have learnt here on HN that they last many years, are used on space projects such as the voyager probes, and more recently, the mars rover. They are impractical for other uses, such as powering your fridge and home. And their price is.... astronomical.
- _Microft 6y agoAtomic batteries are a thing; I was wondering how they could be made chargeable.
- addaon 6y agoOne thing that comes to mind is Hafnium 178m2, but (for understandable reasons) there's basically zero public information about the feasibility of charging and induced discharging of any nuclear isomer, let alone one so energy dense.
- _Microft 6y agoCool, thanks for pointing that out! This is basically what I was thinking about in my reply to user dongobongo.