Good Thinking

London Christmas tree powered by a Brussels sprout battery

London Christmas tree powered by a Brussels sprout battery
The Brussels sprout battery, with the Christmas tree
The Brussels sprout battery, with the Christmas tree
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The Brussels sprout battery, with the Christmas tree
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The Brussels sprout battery, with the Christmas tree
The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
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The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
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The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
Each cell is surrounded by 200 sprouts for a grand total of 1,000 Brussels sprouts in the whole battery
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Each cell is surrounded by 200 sprouts for a grand total of 1,000 Brussels sprouts in the whole battery
Even with a huge amount of Brussels sprouts though, the battery can only produce about 62 volts and 10mA of current
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Even with a huge amount of Brussels sprouts though, the battery can only produce about 62 volts and 10mA of current
Even with a huge amount of Brussels sprouts though, the battery can only produce about 62 volts and 10mA of current
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Even with a huge amount of Brussels sprouts though, the battery can only produce about 62 volts and 10mA of current
After a survey found that most children in the UK would like to take Brussels sprouts off of the traditional Christmas menu, the fair organizers came up with the idea for the vegetable-powered tree
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After a survey found that most children in the UK would like to take Brussels sprouts off of the traditional Christmas menu, the fair organizers came up with the idea for the vegetable-powered tree
According to the organizers, the sprouts should be able to light up the tree for several weeks, though they will need to be exchanged for fresh ones at some point to keep the tree lit over the holidays
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According to the organizers, the sprouts should be able to light up the tree for several weeks, though they will need to be exchanged for fresh ones at some point to keep the tree lit over the holidays
According to the organizers, the sprouts should be able to light up the tree for several weeks, though they will need to be exchanged for fresh ones at some point to keep the tree lit over the holidays
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According to the organizers, the sprouts should be able to light up the tree for several weeks, though they will need to be exchanged for fresh ones at some point to keep the tree lit over the holidays
The sprouts are each mounted onto copper and zinc electrodes, which triggers a chemical reaction between the electrolytes in each sprout and produces a small current
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The sprouts are each mounted onto copper and zinc electrodes, which triggers a chemical reaction between the electrolytes in each sprout and produces a small current
The sprouts are each mounted onto copper and zinc electrodes, which triggers a chemical reaction between the electrolytes in each sprout and produces a small current
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The sprouts are each mounted onto copper and zinc electrodes, which triggers a chemical reaction between the electrolytes in each sprout and produces a small current
Each cell is surrounded by 200 sprouts for a grand total of 1,000 Brussels sprouts in the whole battery
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Each cell is surrounded by 200 sprouts for a grand total of 1,000 Brussels sprouts in the whole battery
A capacitor collects and stores the energy from all the sprouts before releasing it to the tree's lights
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A capacitor collects and stores the energy from all the sprouts before releasing it to the tree's lights
To promote The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, a team of designers built the world's first Brussels sprout-powered battery and hooked it up to a set of Christmas tree lights
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To promote The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, a team of designers built the world's first Brussels sprout-powered battery and hooked it up to a set of Christmas tree lights
The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
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The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks
View gallery - 15 images

You've probably seen a light powered by a lemon or a clock hooked up to a potato before, but a group in London recently built a similar device using a much smaller, less popular piece of produce. To promote The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, a team of designers built the world's first Brussels sprout-powered battery and hooked it up to a set of Christmas tree lights.

Every year, the fair's organizers try to find new ways to get kids interested in science and technology. So after a survey found that most children in the UK would like to take Brussels sprouts off of the traditional Christmas menu, the group came up with the idea for the vegetable-powered tree and enlisted the help of the Designworks design group to make it happen.

The battery itself is comprised of five power cells, which are modeled after the appearance of natural Brussels sprouts stalks. Each cell is surrounded by 200 sprouts for a grand total of 1,000 Brussels sprouts in the whole battery. The sprouts are each mounted onto copper and zinc electrodes, which triggers a chemical reaction between the electrolytes in each sprout and produces a small current. A capacitor collects and stores the energy from all the sprouts before releasing it to the tree's lights. A digital display on top of the battery also shows how much voltage it is producing in real-time.

Even with a huge amount of Brussels sprouts though, the battery can only produce about 62 volts and 10mA of current, which is low but still enough to power the tree's 100 high-efficiency LEDs. According to the organizers, the sprouts should be able to light up the tree for several weeks, though they will need to be exchanged for fresh ones at some point to keep the tree lit over the holidays.

It may not be the most practical source of energy in the world, but most kids would probably prefer to see Brussels sprouts lighting a Christmas tree instead of landing on their plates.

Be sure to check out the video below to see the moment of truth when a group of school children switches on the sprout-powered Christmas tree.

Source: The Big Bang, Designworks

The Big Bang Fair brussels sprouts battery

View gallery - 15 images
4 comments
4 comments
The Skud
That is virtually the only reason for Brussels Sprouts I can think of at this time. Merry Christmas!
Mel Tisdale
If my experience with Brussels sprouts is anything to go by, I suggest they also hang a sign saying: "No naked flames", or the fair's name, Big Bang, might be all too appropriate.
BigGoofyGuy
Brussel Sprouts is definitely an aquired taste, one that I aquired when I was older. I wonder how many kids would be willing to donate their brussel sprouts to light up their Christmas trees? :)
I think it is very clever.
I wonder if the name of the fair was inspired by the television show 'The Big Bang Theory' which most of the main characters are scientist?
JWeller
Actually it's an occult fertility symbol that has to do with the winter solstice-the rebirth of the sun, powered by brussel sprouts.