Because we only have a limited amount of energy and resources in the universe, scientists are always developing devices that can run for a longer period of time while using less energy. This sensor is an example of such devices.
The latest sensor to be invented in the lab can go for a whole year on a single burst of energy, aided by a physics phenomenon known as quantum tunnelling.
The tunnelling aspect means that with the help of a 50-million-electron jumpstart, this simple and inexpensive device (made up of just four capacitors and two transistors) can keep going for an extended period of time.
The quantum rules of physics, applying at the smallest atomic scales, means that electrons can behave both as particles and as waves, and the scientists were able to tap into that behaviour to precisely control electron flow from one side of a circuit to the other.
Learn more details about this device over at ScienceAlert.
Cool!
(Image Credit: Chakrabartty Lab/ ScienceAlert)
Ultimately, we'd like to know if this will lead to a battery that can power a smartphone for a month of typical use.
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