Researchers at UCLA and Stanford University have invented a $30 device that turns the cold of space into a renewable energy source. The device is based off a thermoelectric generator that creates electricity from a difference in temperature, an effect known as radiative cooling.
While scientists have known about the phenomenon for years, future applications can prove very useful in providing non-traditional forms of electricity. For example, streetlights passively powered by electricity from radiative cooling would not require battery replacements, and households would be able to charge their cell phones off the grid. Researchers recognize the initial power outputs are very small, however the coldness of outer space should be studied further as a resource for energy generation.
Read more: This $30 Device Turns the Cold of Outer Space Into Renewable Energy