[Click here to view the video in this article]
Nokia is working with a team of scientists from the University of Southampton to explore the possibility of harnessing the energy of lightning to charge mobile phones.
The scientists channeled over 200,000 volts from a single bolt of lightning across a 300mm gap using an alternating current driven by a transformer. The signal was then transferred into a second controlling transformer, enabling the phone to be charged.
Neil Palmer, one of the lead scientists involved, said that this proves devices can be charged with a current that passes through air, and that it represents an important step towards understanding and harnessing the natural power of lightning.
Watch a video of the experiment below.
[via Inhabitat and Phys.org, images via Conversations by Nokia]
Nokia is working with a team of scientists from the University of Southampton to explore the possibility of harnessing the energy of lightning to charge mobile phones.
The scientists channeled over 200,000 volts from a single bolt of lightning across a 300mm gap using an alternating current driven by a transformer. The signal was then transferred into a second controlling transformer, enabling the phone to be charged.
Neil Palmer, one of the lead scientists involved, said that this proves devices can be charged with a current that passes through air, and that it represents an important step towards understanding and harnessing the natural power of lightning.
Watch a video of the experiment below.
[via Inhabitat and Phys.org, images via Conversations by Nokia]