Batteries : A Brief History of Energy Storage
A battery's positive end, called the cathode, and its negative end, the anode, are fundamental to how it stores and delivers energy Long ago, humans mastered fire, combining a spark, a flammable object, and oxygen to create light, warmth, and a way to cook food. But as our world grew more complex, so did our energy needs. Now, we rely on power not just to stay warm but also to cool our homes with air conditioning, fuel our devices, and even power electric vehicles. So, how did we go from the primitive glow of fire to a world powered by rechargeable batteries? Modern battery development began in 1800 when Italian scientist Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile, the first true battery capable of continuous electric current. James Prescott Joule formally described the Law of Conservation of Energy , which states: "Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it simply transfers from one form to another." Batteries are special because they allow us to capture and store energy...