How many times has your MP3 player run out of power when you need it most? It can be frustrating, just as you’re listening to that new album for the first time, as you’re running a 10k run, or as you’re just in the middle of that romantic moment. You can really lose your rhythm when your batteries run out.

However that could be a thing of the past, so long as you have some sugar. Japanese scientists have been working on a new biofuel cell that uses sugar. The fuelcell uses enzymes, which break down the sugar creating power. The power is just about enough to power an electronic gadget such as an iPod or MP3 player.

When four of the new fuel cells are put together they create enough power to run an MP3 player equipped with speakers, or to power an RC car.

Previously any attempts to use biofuel cells have been unsuccessful as they’ve produced too little power to be able to power anything useful.

According to Adam Heller, who is an expert in bioelectrochemistry:

The research will give much needed impetus to the development of useful biofuel cells, after years of studies aimed at unachievable goals.