Piezoelectricity moves forward (no pun intended)

Princeton scientists have introduced a new form of piezoelectric material, a rubber sheet that when stretched and strained, converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The sheets are made of organic lead zirconate titanate, layered over silicone with an embedded chip. Imagine the interior of tires lined with this, gaining energy simply from the pressure of the road; or, as PhysOrg notes, a pace maker that can retain energy from each pump. Click the above links for the full articles and studies.

An interesting adaptation...

"The mutation responsible for the alcohol flush reaction, an unpleasant response to alcohol that is relatively common in people of Asian descent, may have occurred following the domestication of rice. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology traced the history of the version of the gene responsible." (PhysOrg)