DARPA Backs Nuclear Waste-Powered Drone Battery for 30-Year Endurance

Specialists from the defense industry, academia, and government have joined forces to develop a next-gen battery that converts nuclear waste into electricity, potentially allowing drones and other defense systems to operate for decades without refueling.

Known as Rads to Watts, the program aims to harness energy from radioisotopes such as Strontium-90 by converting nuclear decay into long-lasting electrical power.

The concept pairs ultra-thin semiconductor layers with radioactive materials that emit charged particles, creating high-density energy capable of powering systems in extreme environments.

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