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| Scientists use lightning bolt to charge mobile phone | Scientists use lightning bolt to charge mobile phone |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Some 200 years after Mary Shelley used lightning to breathe life into Frankenstein's monster, scientists have copied her idea to power a phone. | Some 200 years after Mary Shelley used lightning to breathe life into Frankenstein's monster, scientists have copied her idea to power a phone. |
| The proof-of-concept experiment was conducted at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Nokia. | The proof-of-concept experiment was conducted at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Nokia. |
| The mobile firm warned users "not to try this at home". | The mobile firm warned users "not to try this at home". |
| Harnessing nature in this way could provide power sources where electricity is in short supply, said experts. | Harnessing nature in this way could provide power sources where electricity is in short supply, said experts. |
| Huge step | Huge step |
| Using a transformer, the team recreated a lightning bolt in the lab by passing 200,000 volts across a 30cm (12in) air gap. | |
| "We were amazed to see that the Nokia circuitry somehow stabilised the noisy signal, allowing the battery to be charged," said Neil Palmer, from the University of Southampton's high voltage laboratory. | "We were amazed to see that the Nokia circuitry somehow stabilised the noisy signal, allowing the battery to be charged," said Neil Palmer, from the University of Southampton's high voltage laboratory. |
| "This discovery proves devices can be charged with a current that passes through the air, and is a huge step towards understanding a natural power like lightning and harnessing its energy." | "This discovery proves devices can be charged with a current that passes through the air, and is a huge step towards understanding a natural power like lightning and harnessing its energy." |
| Lightning is a discharge of static electricity that occurs when there is an imbalance in the electrical charge between a cloud and the earth's surface. | Lightning is a discharge of static electricity that occurs when there is an imbalance in the electrical charge between a cloud and the earth's surface. |
| On average three people die in the UK each year from lightning strikes, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa). | On average three people die in the UK each year from lightning strikes, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa). |
| "We obviously aren't recommending people try this experiment at home, but we are always looking to disrupt and push the boundaries of technology," said Chris Weber, executive vice-president for sales at Nokia. | "We obviously aren't recommending people try this experiment at home, but we are always looking to disrupt and push the boundaries of technology," said Chris Weber, executive vice-president for sales at Nokia. |
| Finding new ways to charge mobile phones and extend battery life is one of the number one priorities for the mobile industry. | Finding new ways to charge mobile phones and extend battery life is one of the number one priorities for the mobile industry. |
| "It's certainly a striking idea," said Ben Wood, of analyst firm CCS Insight. | "It's certainly a striking idea," said Ben Wood, of analyst firm CCS Insight. |
| "Nokia has been among the forerunners of device-charging technology for some time. It's also very committed to caring for the environment. So it's perhaps not surprising that the company's involved in what might appear to be a wacky idea." | "Nokia has been among the forerunners of device-charging technology for some time. It's also very committed to caring for the environment. So it's perhaps not surprising that the company's involved in what might appear to be a wacky idea." |
| He thinks the concept might be useful in areas without reliable electricity. | He thinks the concept might be useful in areas without reliable electricity. |
| "If you live in a remote village in India you might welcome the possibility of a communal device that charges phones." | "If you live in a remote village in India you might welcome the possibility of a communal device that charges phones." |