Professor Robert Partridge, head of Nanomaterials Research Centre at Massey University in New Zealand announced today that the research lab at the University has developed a major breakthrough in solar power technology. Utilizing a synthetic dye called porphyrin, the lab has developed a “proof of concept” cell, showing that the technology will work. The trick they said, is efficiently passing on the energy they receive from the sun. At this time, the proof of concept cell developed by the University is the most efficient in the world. It is also much cheaper then silicon based technologies, as the cell uses titanium dioxide, a relatively cheap mineral found throughout the world.

Soon you may be able to power your Ipod with the shirt you wear… What once was pure science fiction, may soon come to pass. Read more about this breakthrough at the online article site Stuff.co.nz.