Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have created these snowflake-shaped photovoltaic cells from crystalline silicon.  What’s so special about that is that they use 100 times less material to generate the same amount of electricity as regular solar cells.  Their unusual shape and minuscule size promise to soak up the sun’s rays and help power our devices.  Researchers can see the day when they are inexpensively mass-produced and used in the textile and clothes industries.  In theory, these cells can be placed on any flexible surface.  So for example, they can be installed in camping tents or even a pair of jeans to provide on-the-go charging of our cell phones.  Thanks to these photovoltaic cells, one day we may all be walking power sources.  Neat, huh?

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo; Inhabitat]