The discovery was made by researchers at Oxford University analyzing a specific enzyme produced by fungi growing on rotten wood. The Laccase enzyme has an effect similar to that of platinum on electrodes composing a battery. Chemists say that their first prototype is able to supply more than 2,500 hours of life to an average mp3 player, at about 400 milliamps constant power output. Cell phone batteries are the next step, as they account for more than 200,000 tones of waste each year.

Oxford chemist Christopher Blanford says that by replacing the dangerous chemicals inside batteries with Laccase, their toxic emissions could be virtually reduced to zero. Plans for the mass production of such environmental-friendly power sources are already on the way, with people behind the research hoping to be soon able to create phone batteries that could last as much as 20 re-charges before they become unusable.

By further genetically modifying certain species of mushrooms, scientists hope to get the fungi to produce even more, high-quality Laccase so that sufficient quantities for mass-use become available. "Much of the benefit, if they make it work, is not necessarily cleaner energy but that we no longer need to exploit scarce mineral resources, produce unpleasant by-products, and consume energy in manufacturing processes if we can grow the things naturally", said UK Energy Research Center executive director John Loughhead.

Unfortunately for nature buffs, there is still some time left before this invention can be put to practical use. The available prototype proves that, theoretically, this alternative to chemical-powered electrodes works. But Loughhead says that, most likely, practical applications could be seen around 2020 -2030, when technology has evolved to a stage where issues such as how to replace large enzymes with smaller ones on reduced spaces have been suppressed.