“A new type of electrical generator uses bacterial spores to harness the untapped power of evaporating water…Its developers foresee electrical generators driven by changes in humidity from sun-warmed ponds and harbors.”
Think about the way a fallen leaf curls up as it dries out in the fall. Although it’s very slight, the leaf is moving as it curls and that’s because there is a shift in energy going on as water evaporates from the leaf. That’s basically the idea behind this new technology; harnessing the energy stored by biological materials reacting to changes in humidity.
Specifically, researchers are using a bacterium that wrinkles and hardens into a spore in dry conditions but can quickly return to its original shape when it gets wet. Flexible materials coated in these bacteria also flex and straighten in response to changes in humidity and this movement can be used to generate electricity. It may even be possible to genetically engineer bacteria that can react even more strongly to humidity changes.
This technology is definitely still in the early stages of development, but it could potentially have applications as a whole new type of renewable energy.
(Blogger’s Note: Physics is not my strong suit so if I explained this incorrectly please let me know.)
Getting a charge from changes in humidity
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ifesbob 