Socks create electricity from urine, used in emergency situations

A pair of socks (socks) uses microorganisms to produce urine from the urine that has been successfully produced by British scientists. It sounds a bit dreadful, but it's actually made for special situations, typically creating a small amount of electricity to deliver emergency signals when straying into the forest, desert, .

The most important component of the main socks is bacterial energy cells (MFCs ). This is a special bacterium that can consume urine to produce nutrients while producing electricity. In the lab, researchers at the University of the West have used special stockings they developed to generate enough electricity to power a transmitter, sending content signals. "World's First Wearable MFC " (roughly translated: " world's first MFC wearable device " ) with a frequency every 2 minutes.

Actually creating electricity with urine is not new. Previously, the team at the Ieropoulos lab in England used urine to generate electricity for cell phones, a paper communicator and a 3D printed robot heart, however. The previous practice has been limited to the need for a pump to continuously supply urine to microorganisms.

Picture 1 of Socks create electricity from urine, used in emergency situations
The most important component of the main socks is bacterial energy cells (MFCs).

This time, the team at the Ieropoulos laboratory at the University of West England integrated microbial fuel cells into the sock, taking advantage of the foot itself to act as a pump. They said the sock could act as a non-electric pump and inspired by how fish use muscles to circulate blood in their bodies unconsciously.

And instead of using muscles like fish, socks use flexible silicone tubes, wrap underneath the heel and connect to MFCs cells that can be curled near the ankles. Every time the user walks, the silicone tubes will be compressed and the urine is pumped up to supply the microbes.

Before the news of this unique sock, Heather Luckarift, a researcher at Ohio State Space Technology Corporation, who developed microbiological technology for the US Air Force, said: "This is an explosion. In the field of wearable equipment, it has created flexible microbial fuel cells, promising to apply to more diverse products, however, it is unclear how to bring water. Pee in the socks?

It seems to be true, but according to researchers at Ieropoulos, they make socks for special situations."For example, the military, astronauts, skiers or even outdoor clothing can apply it. More specifically in disaster, disaster, or stray situations and requires electricity for help, signaling, . this could be an effective solution, "the team said.