The cockroach fuel-cell volunteer (via ACS Publications)
The living-cell battery from the Matrix movies is real, but not for us humans.
Scientist Daniel Scherson and his team from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, have take to immobilizing insects and turning them into living fuel-cells. Using a "False Death's Head Cockroach," also know as a discoidalis, the team was able to insert electrodes made of thin carbon fibers sealing in a glass capillary tube into incisions made in the insect. The biofuel cell using the roach's "trehalose" sugar as a fuel mixed with oxygen to generate electricity. The outcome maxed out at approximately 55 μW/cm2 at 0.2 V.
The Trehalose based fuel-cell. "bienzymatic trehalase|glucose oxidase trehalose anode and a bilirubin oxidase dioxygen cathode using Os complexes grafted to a polymeric backbone as electron relays was designed and constructed." (via ACS Publications)
Although the glass tube, two pins through the pronotum, two more pins the posterior of the abdomen, and a series of staples to hold the cockroach down did no significant damage to the insect's critical organs, we can all assume it was not a pleasant experience for our insect friend. There may be a reprieve for the living creatures on this project. The team was able to achieve similar results with the same procedure on a Shiitake Mushrooms.
The team stated that the goal is to power micro and nano devices with a semi-recharging battery. (ie: The insect eats, and then recharges its core, so to speak.) Research funding was provided by the National Science Foundation. Read about the whole project after the link.
It is a shame that creatures have to suffer so much for our benefit and gain.
Cabe