Ah science, where would we be without it? Well it turns out that in a few years time we could all be using iPods and mobile phones that don’t even require batteries or mains power for their source of power. Instead they could rely on the movements of our own bodies to generate electricity – whether it be our heart beating, our legs moving or the pinch of our fingers!

A team of scientists presented their findings at a National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, in which they used zinc oxide nanowires to generate electricity when strained and flexed.  Dr. Zhong Lin Wang of the team said of their findings:

This development represents a milestone toward producing portable electronics that can be powered by body movements without the use of batteries or electrical outlets.

Our nanogenerators are poised to change lives in the future. Their potential is only limited by one’s imagination.

Their latest development of the concept was thousands of times more powerful than their previous attempts and Dr. Wang is hopeful that if they can sustain the rate of improvement the nanogenerator could be used for a “broad range of other applications that require more power.” Five nanogenaroters can currently produce a cumulative total of about 1 microampere at 3 volts, which is equivalent to 2 AA batteries – a substantial increase from previous versions.

[Via The Telegraph]