Solar Plane Takes Flight

It may have only been a 350 meter flight down the runway at an altitude of just one meter and lasting 28 seconds, but test pilot Markus Scherdel has flown into the history books piloting Solar Impulse. Solar Impulse founder and president Bertrand Piccard says “For over ten years now, I have dreamt of a solar aircraft capable of flying day and night without fuel” he said in a press release. “Today, our plane took off and was airborne for the very first time.”

Spokeswoman Rachel Bros de Puechredon told Wired.com “There will first be longer flights and to higher altitudes. The next step will be the first day-night-day flight, a 36 hour flight next summer.”

It's just too bad they couldn't have accomplished this in 2003 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers flight!

Next Gen Prius Will Have Solar Panels

According to CNETs Green Tech Blog Toyota is planning to install solar panels on the roof of the next generation, high-end, Prius Hybrid. The panels will supply at least some of the two to five kilowatts required to power the air conditioning and are reported to be supplied by Kyocera. It is expected that we will see the new Prius, a third generation of the vehicle, by next spring and the addition of a solar panel will make Toyota the first major automaker to incorporate solar-power into a mass-produced car. It will be interesting to see how the panels are incorporated into the design of the vehicle.

Electrifying Bra On Display

Looking for a new way to keep that cell phone or iPod charged? If you are of the female persuasion, or enjoy wearing ladies underwear, you might just be in luck. Germany's Triumph International has unveiled it's “Photovoltaic-Powered Bra” in Tokyo, the under garment comes equipped with a solar panel capable of producing enough power to charge your gadgets battery It has to be exposed to the light which might not be acceptable in all situations, and you'll have to shy away from the rain... check out this Reuters video.