Learn how fish scales can generate electricity, in this video from NOVA’s Gross Science series. Fish scales are made of collagen, a piezoelectric material. Piezoelectric materials generate electric charge in response to mechanical stress. Physicists have developed a way to turn fish scales into biodegradable nanogenerators. The devices harvest energy from movements and convert it into electrical energy. Potential applications for this type of generator include flexible electronics, edible electronics, and biocompatible insulin pumps or pacemakers. This resource is part of the NOVA: Gross Science Collection.