Surprising Science — April 16, 2012

Soccket

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Soccket, a soccer ball that stores the energy generated while playing with it, was developed by Uncharted Play, Inc.

The product of an engineering class for non-engineers at Harvard, Soccket uses a pendulum to store the energy created by kicking the ball around. Children in resource-poor areas can play with the ball, then use its battery to power lights and other electronics. With 30 minutes of play providing 3 hours of LED light, the Soccket uses the world’s most popular sport as a vehicle for delivering an effortless and cheap solution to a worldwide problem.

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

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