Bra Power: Can Bouncing Breasts Charge an iPod?

[kentauros]

Cross-post from Da Lounge

From Treehugger :D

Bra Power: Can Bouncing Breasts Charge an iPod?

Guys, just keep on movin'. Ain't nothing to see here. This post goes out to all the big-breasted women who can hear the echo of their own internal monologue in Adrienne So's comment in an article at Slate:

"As a woman who loves sports, I've always found the concept of breasts bothersome. If all goes according to plan, they will fulfill their intended function for about three of the 70 years that I have them. The rest of the time, they alternate between getting in my way and embarrassing me."

Thank you to Adrienne So for asking the question: can we harness breast energy and put it to better use? TreeHugger and Instructables teamed up to make a working chest charger which relies only on the rise and fall of the chest during breathing. So the question seems viable.

Adrienne discovers in her research that a size D-cup breast in a low support bra can move up to 35 cm (!!!!!) during exercise. Now, we all know that none of us with D-cups are wearing "low support bras" during exercise. But there's a lotta bouncing going on even with the best, most expensive sport bra money can buy. So the subject has potential.

Since Slate scooped us on this one, we won't give away any more secrets. You will have to pop over to Slate to see what Adrienne learned in her survey of sports experts, nanotech fabric specialists and the inventor of the Lightning Pack power-generating backpack. It's certainly at least as good an idea as running around half-naked in a solar powered bra!

[BobRossi]

1. Hey baby...

Can I help you charge that thing?

[Baclava]

9. It's not just for the children anymore...n/m

[aspergris]

2. That assumes a falsehood

"If all goes according to plan, they will fulfill their intended function for about three of the 70 years that I have them."

It assumes that breasts' intended function is only to provide breast milk. Actually, that's the MAMMARY GLANDS' evolved function.

The breasts in general are mostly (by volume/area/weight) NOT mammary glands. The mammary glands are a small part of the breasts.

The CW is that breasts evolved to create a visual replacement for the gluteal fold as we evolved an upright stance.

This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. And it explains WHY there is so much "superflous" tissue in the breasts - that serves NO milk producing function.

It *is* superflous* for milk production. You could strip (no pun intended) most of the breast volume and not affect milk production at all

The OTHER purpose then, of the breast as a whole - is as a visual stimulus.

And those of us who appreciate breasts - salute you

[onehandle]

4. "gluteal fold"

Whenever I tell people that the appearance of modern human breasts are to remind us of a cavewoman's ass, they look at me like I'm insane.

Don't blame me. Blame evolution.

Sweet evolution.

[aspergris]

6. Yup

Exactly. We;re on the same page.

Evolution made some mistakes. It's imperfect, but it's a journey not a destination. But on the breasts front - I give it an A.

[ForrestGump]

22. I give it a double-A

Well, actually, anything from there on up is fine. :-)

[uppityperson]

20. Other CW is they evolved when early prehomo-sapiens went into water

so infants could be nursed while wading or sitting in ocean. Back when weather changed and pre-homosapiens evolved living by, and in much of the time, the ocean, hair patterns changed, buttocks developed, breasts enlarged. Hair pattern changed as has in other ocean dwelling mammals (pits, crotch). Hair on top of head grew longer to give infants more to grab on to. Buttocks developed while sitting on beach (vs in vegetation). Breasts enlarged to float more on water and be more accessible to infants. Tear ducts in eyes evolved to deal with excess salt, like in seagulls.

The visual replacement for gluteal folds assumes that gluteal folds disappeared (not on me) and that their primary purpose was to sexually excite males. Were males were so dependent upon them to perform sexually? Did breasts evolve because to be sexually stimulating or did they become sexually arousing due to sociological things? What about societies where women don't wear tops? Those poor men, running around aroused all the time?

Naw, just because someone finds something sexually stimulating doesn't mean it evolved for that purpose.

[ensho]

3. plus breasts need to do some bouncing to stay healthy

breasts do other physical things besides produce milk. they are also involved in fat reduction; and not understood fully well is their being a toxin reducer, etc.

[aspergris]

7. and breasts

don't produce milk, per se.

The mammary glands do. as mentioned in my other post, breasts >>>> mammary glands. Mammary glands are to the breasts as hair follicles are to the skin. A small (important but small) part of the greater organ.

[Marrah_G]

5. "The rest of the time, they alternate between getting in my way and embarrassing me."

I totally disagree with this statement. There are other far more pleasurable uses for breasts!

I like mine!

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. We can only hope. n/t

[Growler]

10. Depends on who is wearing the iPod....

:hide:

[PM7nj]

11. I'm so sending this to Randi Rhodes.

Bounce your boobies. :)

[guitar man]

12. Ladies, for the good of the planet

please, please, bounce them!! :evilgrin:

[charlie]

13. If you don't bounce

a small mammal can do the work for you.

Abbie Hawkins, a hotel receptionist, thought her mobile phone was ringing when she felt vibrations coming from her clothes.

But she later discovered the tiny creature tucked away in the padded pocket of her underwear.

As staff and colleagues crowded around, Miss Hawkins, 19, produced the frightened bat, which was the size of her hand.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2266900/Teenager-finds-baby-bat-in-her-bra.html

[ensho]

14. underwear with pockets?

nt

[charlie]

15. Bra

Probably another way of saying "cup".

[ForrestGump]

24. Is that a bat in your pants?

Or are you just happy to see me?

[Beacool]

25. A bat in her panties?????

When was the last time she changed them????

:wow:

[BigDaddy44]

16. "they will fulfill their intended function for about three of the 70 years that I have them"

Depends on your definition of "intended function". Ms. BigDaddy's have been fulfilling MY intended function for many many years now.

[ItNerd4life]

17. Charge an ipod? What about the vibrator? Priorities people!

:P

[Buns_of_Fire]

18. Rusty Warren: A Woman Ahead of Her Time!

:thumbsup:

[slampoet]

19. "I don't know much about technology, but i know what i like....."

Actually, i do know tech hacking and this uses the piezoelectric effect and has already been proposed for dance floors.


http://www.hackaday.com/2008/06/20/dance-floor-power-generation/

[LWolf]

21. Charge an ipod? As long as they're still here, I guess I could.

Frankly, I wish I'd gotten rid of them many years ago. My spine would be straighter, my entire back would hurt less, and I could spend less $$ on bras made to restrain exuberant DDs from getting in the way and hurting when doing anything more energetic than a walk.

They are always in the way.

I just never seem to have the time, not to get rid of them, but for the inevitable recuperation period after.

A dream of As.

[Initech]

23. Yeah, but all that friction would kill the hard drive.

[Beacool]

26. It's amazing how many uses one can find for breasts.

I know women who hold everything in their bras: cell phone, small wallet, keys, Chapstick, bldg. access card, etc.

Me, I tried putting my cell phone once in the cleavage of my bathing suit at the beach because I was expecting a call and a seagull chose that moment to poop on me. I got so disgusted that I jumped in the water forgetting about the phone, that fiasco cost me $175.00. Needless to say, I never tried putting anything else other than my boobs in a bra ever again. LOL!!!