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Australian farmers produce a whopping 6.2 billion eggs each year. Unfortunately, most of the resulting eggshells end up in landfill. Australian scientist Manickam Minakshi Sundaram hopes to change this with a breakthrough use for eggshells: batteries!

Batteries use chemical reactions to create electricity. Most batteries have two reactions – one that takes in electrons, and another that gives them out. These two reactions happen on the battery’s electrodes. The electrodes also channel the flowing electrons out of the battery and into whatever it’s powering. Since electrodes are so important, scientists are always looking for new ways to make them better.

“We’ve found that chicken eggshells can be used as electrodes – a conductor of electricity – in powering batteries.” says Manickam. “Eggshells contain a high level of calcium carbonate, and when they are baked and crushed, their chemical compositions change and they become a more efficient electrode.”

Manickam’s eggshell batteries have the potential to be safer and less expensive than current lithium batteries. Plus, they are more sustainable! Even better, Manickam’s research has inspired studies of other bio-waste. Now other scientists are making electrodes from leftovers like mango seeds, grape stems and crab shells. Here’s to powering a greener future!