Electric Eels and Batteries

Biology of Electric Eels and how they inspired modern day batteries

In the rivers of the Amazon rainforest was a fish so unusual, that it would go on to change the course of science - and in fact,  the course of modern society. Electric eels are a genus of freshwater fish from South America, famous for their ability to stun their prey by generating electricity, “Eel” is a misnomer, as  they are actually part of the knife fish family, and are more closely related to catfish than eels.

Electric eels are some of the most powerful electric fish in the world. They can deliver shocks up to 860 volts and 1 amp. An average shock from an electric eel lasts about two thousandths of a second. While a single shock probably wouldn’t kill a person, it could seriously stun them. If you got shocked, your muscles would contract briefly, and you’d feel numb. If this happened while you were in the water, it could cause you to drown.

The Biology

Electric eels are impressive hunte…