Ann Makosinski: Unleashing the Thermoelectric Power Inside of You

Power. It’s arguably the most precious commodity of the modern age, and the obsession of brilliant minds around the world. Scientists scramble to harness and hone earth’s natural resources, the brilliance of the sun and the awesome potential of the wind. Engineers run countless configurations to determine the most effective ways to charge our homes and vehicles. For so many of us, unlimited power is a given, something we’ve learned to take for granted

For more than a billion people across the planet, however, electricity is a limited, rare commodity. High schooler Ann Makosinski, 16, of Victoria, Canada learned of this reality and dedicated a science fair project to the situation. Her hand-heat-powered “Hollow Flashlight” was, in her mind, a practical solution to a pretty big problem. To the science community at large, it was a stroke of genius to recognize that power originates within every one of us—every day, all the time. Thermoelectricity took a step forward. Read more...