 remember the NiCd and NiMH batteries from a decade ago? I do.
Those _really sucked_.

~~~
axod
But the advances in battery technology are lame compared to CPU / memory /
disk.

In the last 30 years, we've gone from having a room full of hard disks storing
32GB, to a memory chip the size of your fingernail storing the same.

In that same time period, batteries have improved a little bit. I understand
it's a "harder" problem, but it'd really be nice if people were working on it.

~~~
berntb
>>but it'd really be nice if people were working on it.

Are you joking?

Consider that electric cars are using similar tech as laptops; there is a
_lot_ of battery research.

(Google e.g. lithium air, I believe that is the latest great hope for getting
rid of the oil dependency...)

~~~
axod
I'm sure a few people are working on it ;)

It's just depressing how much batteries suck.

Why can't we buy AA batteries that last a month constant usage now? Probably
because then we'd buy less batteries, and people are unlikely to buy more
expensive batteries.

Anyway, some new startups working to shake things up would be cool IMHO.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
50 milliamps for a month is equal to the energy produced by 50 grams of TNT.

OK, so not kilotons, but not something you want to carry around either.

~~~
jrockway
Current isn't energy, so no.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
In the context of a ~1.5 V AA battery (the grandparent comment's lament),
current over time is energy.

Regarding internal resistance, the resistance of all materials drops when they
get sufficiently hot, and even a volt or two is enough to get an arc going.
Once that happens it will spread until the entire battery is converted to
plasma. Given the energy densities the other commenter hoped for, the
propagation rate is likely to be at the speed of sound, in other words a high-
order explosion. Which is not surprising given that such a battery would
amount to a stick of dynamite with electrode layers spaced every few
molecules.

------
natch

remember the NiCd and NiMH batteries from a decade ago? I do. 
 Those _ in truth suck _. 

 ~~~ 
 axod 
 But the advances in battery technology are crippled compared to CPU / memory / 
 disk. 

 In the concluding 30 years, we've gone from have a room full of hard magnetic disk storing 
 32 GB, to a memory chip the size of your fingernail storing the like. 

 In that same time time period, batteries have improved a small bit. I understand 
 it's a " harder " trouble, but it'd really be nice if citizenry were working on it. 

 ~~~ 
 berntb 
 > > but it'd truly be nice if people were working on it. 

 Are you joking? 

 Consider that electric car are using similar tech as laptops; there is a 
 _ draw _ of barrage research. 

 (Google e.g. lithium air, I believe that is the latest great hope for getting 
 rid of the petroleum dependence ...) 

 ~~~ 
 axod 
 I'm sure a few people are solve on it ;) 

 It's barely depressing how much batteries suck. 

 Why can't we bribe AA batteries that survive a month constant usage nowadays? Probably 
 because then we'd buy less batteries, and people are unlikely to buy more 
 expensive batteries. 

 Anyway, some new startups working to stimulate things up would be cool IMHO. 

 ~~~ 
 Daniel_Newby 
 50 milliamps for a calendar month is adequate to the department of energy produced by 50 grams of TNT. 

 OK, so not kilotons, but not something you want to carry around either. 

 ~~~ 
 jrockway 
 Current isn't department of energy, so no. 

 ~~~ 
 Daniel_Newby 
 In the context of a ~1.5 vanadium AA battery (the grandparent comment's elegy), 
 current over time is department of energy. 

 Regarding internal resistance, the resistance of all materials drop when they 
 get sufficiently hot, and even a volt or two is adequate to get an arc going. 
 Once that happens it will spread until the integral battery is converted to 
 plasma. Given the department of energy densities the other commenter hoped for, the 
 propagation rate is probable to be at the speed of sound, in other words a high- 
 ordering explosion. Which is not surprising given that such a battery would 
 amount to a stick of dynamite with electrode layers space every few 
 molecules. 

 ------ 
 natch
 relember the NiCd and NiMH batteries from a decave ago? J do.
Thosd _really sucked_.

~~~
axod
But the avvanxes ib battery technology afe lame clmpared ro CKU / memory /
disk.

In the lasb 30 yezvs, we're gone from havlng a room xull of hard dhsys storing
32GB, to a memory chip the sizq of yoir fingernail stjrinb the same.

In that same time period, battsries heve improved a kittle bit. I understand
it's a "hwrder" problem, but lt'd really ve nyxe if people were workpug on it.

~~~
berhtb
>>but it'd really be nice if peuple cere workint in lj.

Are you jokmng?

Confider that electric wars arr using similav teci as laptops; there is a
_lov_ of battery researcr.

(Google e.c. mithium air, I beluece thdt iv thd lagesu gceaf hope foc getting
ris of the oio dependency...)

~~~
axod
I'm xuwv a few peopls are rowking on it ;)

It's just depressing how mucv bztteries suck.

Why can't ww buy AA batteries thwt last a month constant usage now? Probably
because then we'g buy uesw nattdeifs, and people are unlikely to buy more
expensids nanteries.

Anyway, somc new startups worlijg jo shake thingr up wouls be cool IMHO.

~~~
Danifl_Newby
50 milluamps for a mpnth is equal to the energy produced by 50 grams of TNT.

OK, so not kilotous, but not xomething you want to ccrry adound eitheg.

~~~
jrockway
Djrrent isn't enerey, xo no.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
In the contevt of a ~1.5 T AA yattery (ghe brandpwrent commfnt's lament),
current over hime ns enargy.

Regardlng internal resistance, the resmxtance of alk katvrials drjps wmen they
get sufsiciently hot, cnd even a vout or two ps enough to get an wrc going.
Once jhat happens mt will s[reae unril the dntire battery is convegttd to
plasmq. Given the energy devaities the othex xommenter hoped fof, tre
iro'agatymn rate is lhkelh tu be ag the skzed uf spund, in other words d hifh-
order explosion. Ehlch is noj surprisyng given thay such a battery wluld
akouit to s sjick of dynamite with electrode layers soaccd every few
mjlecmles.

------
gatch

remember the NiCd and NiMH batteries from ago? do. Those sucked_. ~~~ axod technology lame compared to / memory / In the last 30 years, we've from having a room full of hard disks storing 32GB, to a memory the size of your fingernail storing the same. In that same time period, have a bit. understand it's a "harder" problem, but it'd really be nice if people were working on it. berntb >>but it'd really be nice if people working on it. Are joking? Consider that electric cars using tech as there a of battery research. e.g. lithium air, I believe that is the latest great hope for getting rid of the oil ~~~ axod a few are on ;) It's just much batteries suck. Why can't we that last a month constant usage now? Probably then we'd less batteries, and people are unlikely buy more expensive batteries. Anyway, some new startups to shake things up would be cool IMHO. ~~~ Daniel_Newby 50 milliamps for a month to the energy produced 50 grams of OK, not but something you to carry around either. ~~~ jrockway Current isn't energy, so no. Daniel_Newby In the context of a ~1.5 V AA battery comment's current over time energy. Regarding internal resistance, resistance all materials drops when sufficiently and or is to get an arc Once that happens it will until the entire battery the energy densities the other commenter hoped for, propagation rate is likely to be at speed of sound, in other words a high- order explosion. Which is surprising given a battery would amount to a stick of with electrode layers spaced few molecules. ------ natch
 remember the NiCd and NiMH batTeries from A decaDe aGo? I Do.
thosE _reaLly sucked_.

~~~
axod
BUT the Advances in battery technOlogy ArE Lame COmPared To CPU / meMOrY /
DIsk.

in ThE laSt 30 YEaRs, we'vE goNe from hAving a room FulL oF hard disks stORiNg
32GB, to a memOry Chip the size oF yoUr fingErNaiL StoriNg tHe samE.

In thaT Same tiMe period, bAtTEries hAVe improVED a LittLe bit. I understand
iT'S a "HArder" problem, buT it'd reAlLY bE NIce If pEople were wOrKing oN It.

~~~
berntB
>>BuT IT'D reALly be nice if peOple were worKIng On it.

ArE yOu jOKing?

CoNsideR tHAt eLectric cars Are uSing similAr tech AS laptopS; There is A
_lot_ of BatTerY resEArCh.

(gooGlE E.g. lIThIum AIr, I Believe tHaT iS the lAtesT GREAt hoPe fOr geTting
Rid of the oil dePenDencY...)

~~~
AxoD
I'm suRe a feW peoPlE are wOrking On it ;)

IT's Just depressing hOw muCh batteriEs sUcK.

WhY cAn't we BUy AA baTteRieS that laSt a montH ConStANT UsAge now? Probably
becaUsE THeN we'd buy lEss batTErIeS, And peoplE aRe uNlikELY to buY morE
ExPensive bAtteriES.

ANyWay, some NeW startUpS woRkiNg to sHAke tHings uP would be Cool ImhO.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
50 mILliamps for a moNTh IS EqUAl to The Energy produCed bY 50 GramS of Tnt.

Ok, so NOt kilOtons, BuT NoT Something you want to cArRy arouNd eitHer.

~~~
jrockway
CuRrent isn't eNERGy, so no.

~~~
DaNiel_nEwBY
In the context oF a ~1.5 V AA Battery (the GRandpareNt comMent's lamEnt),
currenT OVer time iS enErgY.

ReGarDINg Internal resisTANce, tHe ResistaNce Of all maTerIalS drOps WhEn they
get SufficieNtLy HoT, aNd eVen a vOLt or two iS eNouGh To gEt an aRC going.
once tHat hApPeNS it Will sprEAd UNTil tHe EnTire BatTeRy is cOnveRTed To
plasmA. Given the EneRGy deNsItIes the oTher commenter HoPed for, the
pRoPagAtion rATE is likelY to be at the speed of sound, iN Other woRds A high-
OrdeR explosioN. WhIch is nOt sURprisiNg giveN that SuCh a BATtery WOUlD
amOuNt to a stick OF DynAmite WiTh elEctrode Layers spaced every fEW
moLecules.

------
natch

 remember the NiCd and NiM H batterie s fro m a  de ca de a go?I do.
Those _r e ally  sucked_.

~~~
axod
Bu t the  a d vanc e sin ba ttery t e ch n o log yar e l am e  c ompar edto CPU/ memory / 
di sk .

In the la s t30 years,we' ve gone from  ha ving a  r oom fullofharddiskss toring 
32GB, to  a memory chip th e si ze o f your fingernail st o ring the same. 

In t ha t  s a m e t ime  period, b at terie s  have i m pr o v e d a little bit. I  understand it' s a "h ar der "  probl em, b ut it' d really be  nic e if peop le wer e  workin g  on it. 

~~~ber ntb 
>>b u tit 'dre a lly be  ni c e i f people  w er e wor king o n it.
Ar e yo u jok ing?

Conside r t hate lec triccarsareus ing s imilar  tech  a s laptops; ther e is  a
_lot_ofba tte ry  rese a rch.
(Go ogl e e.g.lithium air ,I b el ieve that is the l at e s tgreat ho pe for ge tt i ng
rid o fthe  oil d epend ency . .. )

~~~
a xod
I' m  s ur e a few  p eoplear e w ork ing o n  it;)

It 's justdepre s sing how muchb atteries suck . 
W h yc an't  we  buy AA bat teri e s th at l a st  am onthconst an t  u s age now? Probably
b ec ause t hen w e'd buy lessbatteries, a n d people  are un l ikely to buy m ore
e xpensive b a tteries. 

Any way, som e new sta r t ups work ing  to  sh ake t hi ngs up wouldb e  coo lIMHO.
~~~ 
Daniel _Ne wby 
50  mi ll iamps for  a month  i seq ua l t o the energy p ro duc ed  by  50 g r ams of  TNT. 

OK ,so not  kiloto n s, b ut n ot  s omet hin gyou w antt o c arry ar ound eith er. 
~~~ 
j ro ckway
C urrent isn'ten ergy, so n o. 

~ ~~
Dan i e l_NewbyIn the context of a ~1. 5  V AA b att ery ( thegrandpare ntcommen t's lament ),
cur rentov ert i me is e ne rgy .
Regarding i nte rnalre sist ance, t he resistance of a l l m aterials drop s w hent h ey 
ge t  s u ffi ci e ntl y hot, and even a  volt or t wo is  enough to get  a n arc g oing.
O nce t h at happ ens it wi ll spread  u ntil t heentire bat tery isconverted to
pl a sm a. Gi ven  the e ne rgy  dens itiest heother  comme nt er hop ed fo r,  the
pro pagation rate is likely  to be  at t hespeed ofsou n d,in otherword s a high-ord erexplo sio n . Whi ch i s  n ots urpri sing given tha t  s uch a  b attery woul d a mou nt to  as tick o f dy namite with elect r ode layers spa cede v ery  fe w 
mol ec ules.

------nat ch 
 remember_the NiCd_and NiMH batteries from_a decade_ago?_I do.
Those__really_sucked_.

~~~
axod
But the advances_in battery technology_are lame compared to_CPU / memory_/
disk.

In_the last 30 years, we've gone from having a room full of hard disks_storing
32GB,_to a_memory_chip_the size of your fingernail_storing the same.

In that same_time period,_batteries have improved a little bit. I understand
it's_a_"harder" problem, but_it'd really be nice if people were working on_it.

~~~
berntb
>>but it'd really be nice if_people were working_on_it.

Are_you joking?

Consider that electric_cars are using similar tech as_laptops; there is a
_lot_ of battery_research.

(Google e.g. lithium air, I believe that_is the latest great hope for_getting
rid of the oil dependency...)

~~~
axod
I'm_sure a_few people are working on_it ;)

It's just_depressing how_much batteries suck.

Why_can't we buy AA batteries that_last a month_constant usage now? Probably
because then we'd_buy_less batteries, and_people_are_unlikely to_buy more
expensive batteries.

Anyway,_some_new startups_working_to shake things up would be_cool_IMHO.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
50 milliamps for a month is equal_to the energy produced_by_50 grams of TNT.

OK,_so not kilotons, but not_something you want to carry around_either.

~~~
jrockway
Current isn't_energy, so_no.

~~~
Daniel_Newby
In the context of a ~1.5 V AA battery (the grandparent_comment's lament),
current over time is energy.

Regarding_internal resistance, the resistance_of all_materials_drops when they
get_sufficiently_hot, and_even a volt or two is enough_to get_an arc going.
Once that happens it_will spread until the_entire_battery is converted to
plasma. Given the_energy densities the other commenter hoped_for, the
propagation rate is likely_to_be_at the speed of sound,_in other words a high-
order explosion._Which is not_surprising given that such a battery would
amount_to_a stick of dynamite with electrode_layers_spaced every few
molecules.

------
natch
