PlanetQuest is NASA’s effort to search for new Earths, exoplanets like ours that would probably contain life too. They’re doing some really cool stuff, like this sunflower-telescope combo spaceship—"a cutting-edge effort to take pictures of planets orbiting stars far from the sun." Imagine that—seeing the actual planets!
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Looking for a solar charger for your gadgets, but want something other than a black box with a solar panel glued to it? Then Check out XD Design’s latest creation – the Solar Sunflower, a gadget charger perfect for those with or without a green thumb.
Designed to look like a small, potted sunflower, you can place it in a window or bring it with you outside to charge up your mobile devices. It’s got a powerful 2500 mAh rechargeable battery built in, so it’ll hold onto some juice even when the sun goes down. It’s got a USB connector for charging your smartphones and other small gadgets (sorry, no tablets), and a mini-USB input, which I can only assume is for charging its internal battery up without sunlight.
The Solar Sunflower is available from Design3000 for €59.50 (~$77 USD), and for wholesale purchasers over on XD Design’s website now.
Sometimes, looks matter. Don’t get me wrong, because functionality should always be the main concern. But when that part’s done and over with, aesthetics also play a role in how it impacts people’s lives.
Take, for example, these solar lamps by Danish artist Olafur Elisasson. It’s pretty obvious why he decided to name it the Little Sun. But aside from its novelty factor, the lamps serve a higher purpose.
Elisasson actually designed them to sell to poorer countries that still use kerosene lamps. At $10(USD) a pop, they’re pretty much as affordable as solar lamps can get. They’re also a breath of fresh air from how solar lamps typically look light, and economical too. As Elisasson says that “over the course of the lamp’s lifespan, its users can save 90 percent on what they would spend on kerosene for lighting.”
I don’t know about you, but if I’m in a crappy mood, these Little Suns could probably brighten up my day.
[via The Economic Times via Dvice]
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