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Originally Posted by Thomas Anderson
I don't use a laptop myself, but logically if this is a feasible technology, what's to stop it being used in all TV's and computers? It could save lots of money in terms of electricity bills and such.
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I may be a little rusty on my physics but I always thought that beta decay poses a genuine risk to human health. Alpha particles can only affect us if we ingest them or if they enter the bloodstream directly through say a cut or graze but beta particles can penetrate the skin can they not?
OK, so the developers may say we'll ensure the battery has aluminium-plated walls but that is far from safe. What happens if you drop your laptop and damage the battery? What happens if you throw your laptop out in 10-20 years as it is completely outdated instead of waiting till it's dead:
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Originally Posted by Thomas Anderson
The best part about these cells are when they eventually run out of power they are totally inert and non-toxic, so environmentalists need not fear these high tech scientific wonder batteries.
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So they are toxic and potentially damaging to the environment if discarded before they are expired?
I like the idea but using radioactive decay to provide power in day to day situations outwith a nuclear power plant somehow seems like treading on very thin ice. Also, given that the batteries 'supposedly' last for 30 years, what will such long term exposure have on your health even if short term exposure is deemed inconsequential? Would you want your kids using them?