China’s recent unveiling of a miniature “nuclear battery” with a functional lifespan of up to 50 years, developed by Beijing-based startup Betavolt, has generated both optimism and ethical concerns within the scientific community. The technology aims to revolutionize power sources for electronic devices by converting energy released from radioactive decay into steady electric output. Betavolt’s initial BV100 prototype uses the nickel-63 isotope as its radioactive fuel. This nickel radionuclide, with a 100-year half-life, gradually sheds electrons as it decays. The emitted energy gets captured by thin layers of diamond semiconductors within the battery unit, generating usable electricity. The company claims