19th century discovery could be 21st century energy source

Around since 1839, fuel cells sound like the energy source of the future. A sort of self-energized battery, fuel cells work by stripping the electrons off hydrogen and creating an electric current.

Fuel cells have proven their merits in orbit; NASA has used them to generate electrical power for manned space missions. On the ground, problems with cost and size have limited the appeal of fuel cells, but engineers are now hard at work adapting and shrinking the technology.

The power source is the weak link in today's portable electronics. Cell phones, for instance, contain battery packs that can handle only about two hours' worth of calls before they need to be recharged, which can take all day. In addition, the batteries can only be recharged a limited number of times; usually they have to be replaced every two years. But with a micro fuel cell powering your phone, you could make calls for 100 hours straight. When the fuel runs out, you could instantly "recharge" by refilling the cell with methanol.

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