Hair power

awesomeness, news, science

Sep 082009

Teenager invents £23 solar panel that could be solution to developing world’s energy needs … made from human hair

Huh.

Milan Karki, 18, who comes from a village in rural Nepal, believes he has found the solution to the developing world’s energy needs.
…
The hair replaces silicon, a pricey component typically used in solar panels, and means the panels can be produced at a low cost for those with no access to power, he explained.
…
The solar panel, which produces 9 V (18 W) of energy, costs around £23 to make from raw materials.

Well, that’s… huh. How about that.

3 Responses to “Hair power”

Circle-5 says:

September 11, 2009 at 9:48 pm

Sorry to spoil the fun, but this story is a complete hoax. Details just a Google away…
admin says:

September 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm

Wouldn’t surprise me. Electron-pushing ain’t my schtick, however.
Rick says:

September 11, 2009 at 10:25 pm

“9V (18 W) of energy” is a blatant giveaway. Volts are units of potential; Watts, of power. Neither measures energy. That the Daily Mail fell for it speaks greatly to their standards.

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