Turning heat into energy is just basic physics, but usually boiling water is done to generate steam to drive a turbine. An entirely different concept involves boiling water to create an electric current via thermoelectric materials through the temperature gradient.
David Toledo and Paul Slusser have been devising a type of cooking pots – the PowerPot – where the temperature difference between the top and bottom of a heated pot can create such a thermoelectric current. The pot can be heated over a camp fire or even a gas stove to generate electricity to juice up a portable electronic device. Continue reading Boil Water to Make a Call