Lapbomb

The Internet abounds with stories of exploding laptops. In 2005 Dell recalled 35,000 laptops, Apple recalled 128,000 Mac batteries and Fujitsu 250,000 batteries. Many companies made similar recalls in 2006 due to overheating batteries, often made by Sony. The latest victim is Toshiba, who recently admitted that they had evidence of one of their laptops bursting into flames due to a short-circuit within the Sony-made battery.

Sony responded by saying that in this case the problem was caused by microscopic metal particles getting into lithium-ion batteries, causing it to short-circuit. Not to let an opportunity pass, Panasonic have designed a “safe” lithium-ion rechargeable battery which is surrounded by a layer of heat-resistant insulating material.