MIT researchers build tiny batteries with viruses

MIT scientists have harnessed the construction talents of tiny viruses to build ultra-small "nanowire" structures for use in very thin lithium-ion batteries.

"The nanoscale materials we've made supply two to three times the electrical energy for their mass or volume, compared to previous materials," the team reported.

The line between living and nonliving blurs further. Cool in that they were able to use viruses to make the battery. Also the 2-3 times increase in battery density is very important to allow for hybrids, plugin hybrids or straight up electric cars. Wonder what the economics are like to actually manufacture batteries this way.

via Eureka Alert