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Nine Unlikely Power Sources, from Revolving Doors to Battery-Charging Shoes
Power, wherever we can find it.
We don’t have to try too hard to generate power. The energy it takes to produce just one breath is equal to about a watt, for starters. It’s no surprise then that researchers around the globe have been searching for ways to harvest
Battery-charging Shoes (2)
A researcher at Louisiana Tech University has designed shoes that can charge your gadgets. Walking causes the shoes to generate a charge, which is transformed into stored electricity. It’s a work in progr
Camping Stoves (4)
The campfire skills you might have learned in scouts aren’t necessary for the BioLite, an amazingly portable and efficient camping stove. Beside
Energy-producing Sidewalks (4)
In well-designed urban areas, crowded sidewalks are a sign of citizens moving efficiently through the city. But what if we could make pedestrians even more efficient? In Chicago, POWERLeap is developing sid
Kites
Earlier this year, European researchers used a 100-square-foot kite to produce 10 kilowatts of energy, enough to power 10 homes. Once a kite is aloft, the wind rotates a fast-spinning spool that delivers energy to the gro
Printable Solar Panels (5)
The Irish company SolarPrint has developed a new type of solar cell that can be printed on a variety of surfaces, using fewer raw materials and
Revolving Doors (2)
During peak work hours, it’s not unusual to see people propelling a revolving door in an endless circle. Fluxxlab, a design firm, created the Revolution Door, which harvests electricity from the movement of each
Soccer Balls (4)
Soccer is not only the world’s most popular sport; it might also hold the key to bringing electricity to developing countries. That’s what four Harvard students hope their electricity-generating soccer ball,
Solar Asphalt Shingles (3)
Dow Chemical announced last year that it was developing the Powerhouse Solar Shingle, a solar panel that also serves as a roofing material. Instead of installing an expensive array, you might be able to simply
Underwater Kites (5)
As it turns out, kites aren’t made only for the high skies. They’re also good for capturing energy from the ocean. The underwater kites are large wings that hold a turbine, which is spun by the tides. Min
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