Scientists develop real-world Infinity Gems

Don't tell Thanos: scientists at the University of Bristol in the UK have just found a way to make near-indestructible batteries that can generate practically unending power.

And they're made of radioactive diamonds.

Built from chemical byproducts scraped off the insides of nuclear reactors, these radioactive diamond batteries could help keep the environment clean while providing enough energy to run electronic devices for over 5,000 years—not unlike Marvel's Infinity Gems, but on a humbler scale.

"There are no moving parts involved, no emissions generated and no maintenance required, just direct electricity generation," said Materials Professor Tom Scott of the University's Interface Analysis Centre.

The researchers took Carbon-14, a radioactive form of the element that is a common byproduct of nuclear reactors, and subjected it to intense pressure and heat. This allows the carbon to crystallize into a diamond, which generates electricity when irradiated.

But since the diamond was radiactive already to begin with, it thus makes its own energy and produces electricity on its own.

For safety, the radioactive diamond is then encased in an outer layer of non-radioactive diamond to prevent harmful radiation from leaking out.

"By encapsulating radioactive material inside diamonds, we turn a long-term problem of nuclear waste into a nuclear-powered battery and a long-term supply of clean energy," Scott explained.

The prototype diamond battery produces less energy than a commercial AA battery but more than makes up for this in terms of its useful lifetime: it would take 5,730 years for a diamond battery to drop to 50% power—longer than the ancient Great Pyramid of Giza has been in existence.

Which probably means that En Sabah Nur had one for a nightlight.

— GMA News