Sunlight

Gizmag recently took the opportunity to tour the Hangar-7 Museum in Red Bull's hometown of Salzburg, Austria. Step inside for a virtual tour of intriguing architecture and high-performance machinery.

The boffins at architecture firm NBBJ have created the Sunbreak, an intelligent automated shade prototype that can be operated using a smartphone. It could potentially lower a building's running costs and make life more comfortable for those inside.

For residents living in the north, where sunlight can be a rare commodity during the winter, a psychological condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real problem. The CoeLux skylight aims to bring a realistic sunlight experience to those in the dark.

Everyone knows that downtown alleyways are dark at night, but even in the daytime, shadows cast by the tall buildings on either side can make them quite gloomy. That's why researchers are developing a panel that diverts sunlight from buildings' roofs down into the alleyways beside them.

A pair of researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed the SmartLight system, which is designed to direct sunlight into dark, dingy rooms located within the bowels of buildings without requiring the installation of new wiring, ducts, tubes or cables.

For people living in those corners of the globe where electricity can be scarce, WeWi Telecommunications has developed the SOL, a rugged laptop that doesn't rely on a power socket to stay charged. The Ubuntu Linux-powered computer is instead equipped with a detachable solar panel.

The SunSocket Solar Generator is a self-contained solar power system consisting of a battery and solar panels that automatically track the sun to take full advantage of the available energy.

Gizmag reviews the Waka Waka Power solar-powered LED lamp and gadget charger.

The Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylight can be opened and closed via remote control, without installing any wiring.

Studio Gang Architects has unveiled its Solar Carve Tower, designed to preserve the High Line's afternoon sunlight.

The Solar Bag water purifier created by designers Ryan Lynch and Marcus Triest looks like a potential solution to providing clean and safe water, cheaply.

Scientists have successfully used gallium indium phosphide solar cells to generate electricity underwater.