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My first question was "but why?" and apparently it has more applications than one would think at first, as it says in the article: edible batteries in toys for
by gjulianm 3y ago
My first question was "but why?" and apparently it has more applications than one would think at first, as it says in the article: edible batteries in toys for kids would eliminate toxicity risk and supporting electronics that go inside our body (they are working in edible transistors).
I also wanted to highlight this hilarious phrase in the article:
> While all of these components are nontoxic and edible, the researchers clarify that a user is not supposed to eat the battery on purpose, which would obviate the whole point of making it rechargeable.
"Please don't buy our batteries for eating, eat a banana or something"
- pulse7 3y agoNow we need edible electronics and webcams, so you can eat a webcam - make photos inside, send them out of body - and... digest it...
- rft 3y agoWe have edible, but not digestible wireless cameras already. Prepare for a slightly different noise when using the bathroom in the next few days/hours though. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/capsule-endoscopy/about/pac-20393366 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/capsule-endoscop...
- bragr 3y agoKind of already a thing although you have to pass this: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/capsule-endoscopy-small-bowel https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scan...
- themanmaran 3y agoAnother high value use might be long term surgical instruments that are meant to be left in the body for several weeks before degrading harmlessly. Imagine something like dissolving stitches.
- LoganDark 3y agoDon't dissolving stitches already exist[0]? > Absorbable sutures, also known as dissolvable stitches, are sutures that can naturally dissolve and be absorbed by the body as a wound heals. [0]: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-absorbable-sutures https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-absorbable-...
- Doxin 3y agoYes. Now imagine e.g. dissolving pace makers or whatnot.
- LoganDark 3y agoI wonder what use that would have—maybe healing after heart surgery? Using a pacemaker as a crutch until your heart can beat on its own again?
- Doxin 3y agoa pacemaker is admittedly a poor example, but it's also just that: an example. I'm sure there's hosts of medical devices that would benefit from dissolving. Perhaps even devices that are infeasible currently because they don't dissolve.
- RajT88 3y agoHere and I was going to suggest they add a graham cracker crust.
- MrGilbert 3y ago> "Please don't buy our batteries for eating, eat a banana or something" So much potential, which will be left unused... "We don't recommend that you buy our batteries solemnly for the purpose of eating, but we won't judge you either." "We don't recommend that you buy our batteries solemnly for the purpose of eating, but if you want to take a bite, the D-Cells are chocolate flavored."
- exo762 3y agoI associate this style with soulless marketing campaigns. Thanks, marketing, for destroying language for me.
- MrGilbert 3y agoThat was my intention - glad it worked!
- devsda 3y ago> So much potential, which will be left unused... Potential as in electric potential? :)
- MrGilbert 3y agoOh hell... I cannot believe I missed that pun... :D
- xutopia 3y agoOr just coat the batteries in disgusting taste so kids don't put them in their mouth repeatedly.
- voynich 3y agoThis is a good idea, much like the usage of Bitrex in certain household items, mainly cleaning solutions. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34592137 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34592137