For a year, researchers continuously used algae to power a computer.
The University of Cambridge says that the designed system is similar to an AA-sized battery and contains a non-toxic type of blue-green algae with a special type of cyanobacteria.
These algae "naturally collect energy from the sun through photosynthesis," says the university.
Scientists believe the system has "the potential to be a reliable and renewable way to power smaller devices."
They say the system is made from "common, cheaper materials suitable for recycling".
"This means it could easily be replicated hundreds of thousands of times to power a large number of smaller devices as part of the Internet of Things," the team said.
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"It worked non-stop"
Internet of Things (The Internet of Things) represents an ever-growing network of electronic devices, vehicles, buildings, industrial machines and facilities that enables these facilities to communicate with the manufacturer and exchange data.
Electronics, software, sensors do it via the internet, using a small amount of electricity, something like smart watches.
The current collected by photosynthesis interacts with the aluminum electrodes used to power the microprocessor.
Professor Christopher Howe, from Cambridge's Department of Biochemistry, says: "Our device cannot wear out like a battery, as it is constantly using light as an energy source."
In this experiment, the device was used to power a microprocessor that is often used for the Internet of Things.
Dr. Paolo Bombelli, also a biochemist, says: "We are amazed at how the system has been continuously operational over such a long period of time. We thought maybe he would stop after a few weeks, but he just kept going."
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