this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
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Futurology

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[–] drislands 24 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I'm down for technology making use of otherwise-unused energy is great. But that prompts the question -- is the oxygen it's pulling from unused energy? Could this negatively affect the oxygenation of blood?

[–] [email protected] 30 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Probably. But if it means that you can have a lifetime heart pacemaker without ever changing batteries or external charging ports, that may be convenient. I mean, the tradeoff here is probably for people that are worried about more severe things than being a bit slower when jogging.

[–] drislands 14 points 8 months ago (2 children)

That's a fair point. I suppose it depends on how much oxygen it takes, exactly.

[–] RestrictedAccount 7 points 8 months ago

Exactly. It depends on the option.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

And how well oxygenated the person is. If they're chronically really anemic it might be a problem where it wouldn't for a healthy person.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Doesn't a pacemaker last like 10 years now? It would still need battery I guess even though it charges by blood oxygen. Imagine having carbon monoxide poisoning but what killed the patient was the pacemaker that died.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

Doesn't a pacemaker last like 10 years now?

Yes, but a nuclear pacemaker can last a lifetime.
A bio-battery has that same advantage without containing a radioactive sample that needs to be removed when you die.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

How long until it's turned into a weapon

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Or how long until this powers computers with advanced AI