• Researchers have developed a new technology that can harvest power from radio and Wi-Fi signals, enabling the creation of battery-free devices. This technology, called "ambient backscatter," uses the existing radio and Wi-Fi signals in the environment to power low-powered devices, eliminating the need for batteries. The researchers believe this technology could be used to power a wide range of low-power devices, such as sensors, wearables, and smart home devices, without the need for batteries.

• The ambient backscatter technology works by using a special antenna that can reflect and modulate the existing radio and Wi-Fi signals in the environment. This allows the device to extract small amounts of power from these signals, which can then be used to power its own electronics. The researchers have demonstrated that this technology can power devices with as little as 1 microwatt of power, which is a tiny fraction of the power required by traditional battery-powered devices.

• The potential applications of this technology are wide-ranging, as it could enable the development of a new generation of low-power, battery-free devices. For example, the researchers envision using this technology to power sensors that could be embedded in walls, floors, or furniture, allowing for the creation of smart homes and buildings without the need for batteries. Additionally, the technology could be used to power wearable devices, such as fitness trackers or medical sensors, that could operate indefinitely without the need for battery replacement.