Mud- Powered Batteries
Microbial fuel cells take advantage of the byproducts natural(or bio-engineered) bacteria produce when feeding on organic matter. The byproducts range from useable electric current to hydrogen and ethanol, and the feedstocks are usually waste plant matter or even sewage.
This newest innovation uses the science behind microbial fuel cells to power remote sensors on sea turtles. The big difference between this and other microbial fuel cells is that it uses feedstock and bacteria that exist naturally in the wild. In particular, it uses the bacteria which are colonized on the sea floor mud. A chamber attached to the bottom of the turtle grabs some of this bacteria-rich mud when the turtle rests on the ocean floor, and carries it around, using the natural electric current the bacteria generate to power the sensors.
Grabbing useable energy from the environment is a great and upcoming way to generate power. People are doing it by harnessing the movement of bridges, the jostling of animals, and even the natural microcurrent running through trees! Right now, the main problem with these methods is that the power output is very small, and can only be used to power tiny sensors. The improvements in energy efficiency of electronics and the effectiveness of harnessing natural energy will likely lead to more and more useful ways like this to power electronics in the natural world.
