The University of Cambridge researchers behind the project believe their invention could be used as a reliable and renewable way to power small devices in the future.

The whole system is comparable in size to an AA battery and contains a type of non-toxic algae called Synechocystis that naturally harvests energy from the sun through photosynthesis.

The tiny electrical current this generates then interacts with an aluminium electrode and is used to power a microprocessor.

The system is made of common, inexpensive and largely recyclable materials, meaning it could easily be replicated hundreds of thousands of times to power large numbers of small devices as part of the Internet of Things (IoT).

The researchers believe it is likely to be most useful in off-grid situations or remote locations, where small amounts of power can be very beneficial.

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