ARABIC By Shamel Wanis

Published in : ISSUE304

Designer Mike Thompson’s new invention, the Latro lamp, is based on technology developed by scientists from Yonsei University and Stanford University.It derives energy from an algae chamber that requires sunlight, CO2 and water to operate. Simply put the lamp outside, breathe into it, and voila, you’ve created your own bio battery-powered living lamp. How does it work? Algae or seaweed are simple organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis, a process during which algae and other photosynthetic organisms absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight and convert it into oxygen and biomass.

Up to 99% of the carbon dioxide in the solution can be converted and to preserve the energy, scientists inserted 30 nanometer-wide gold electrodes into the photosynthesizing organs of algal cells. During the photosynthetic process, the gold electrodes absorb the small amount of electricity produced during the process and store them in a battery for later use. If the algae aren't left with enough energy for themselves they die, to prevent this the lamp must be switched off, which stops the energy from being collected from the algae. Owners of algae lamps are required to treat it like a pet - feeding and caring for the algae, which in turn provides light. The project is still in a concept phase and has not gone into production yet.