Solar gadgets are everywhere nowadays, but this might be the first time we've ever seen a solar powered toothbrush. And the best part? It doesn't need any toothpaste.

Developed by Dr. Kunio Komiyama at the University of Saskatchewan and manufactured by Japan's Shiken, the toothbrush is currently in a testing phase. The creators are searching for 120 teens to try out the paste-less brush in order to see if it can do a better job than traditional toothbrushes.

Dubbed the Soladey-J3X, the toothbrush features a solar panel at its base, which sends electrons up to the top via a led wire. These electrons then cause a reaction with chemicals in the mouth that clears away plaque, eliminating the need for any pesky toothpaste. "You see complete destruction of bacterial cells," Komiyama told Canada.com. The device won't work in the dark, however, and needs about as much light to work as a solar powered calculator.

The US winner for the James Dyson Award, which rewards innovative new designs, has been announced and it's the Copenhagen Wheel: a wheel that can turn any normal bicycle into an electric hybrid.

Created by a team of students at MIT, the Copenhagen Wheel was designed to both create a cheaper alternative to cars, as well as help create cyclist communities in urban centers. The wheel--which is really more of a hub--features a motor, battery , and gears, and can be switched on when the rider becomes tired or comes across difficult riding conditions. But it also contains a number of sensors that record information on your environment and location. This data can then be transferred to mobile apps or shared with fellow cyclists and used in a variety of different ways.

Other members of the award shortlist include the SeaKettle, a raft that can create drinkable water for stranded passengers, and Empower By Me, a refillable HIV/AIDS kit.

Humanscale recently unveiled a brand new air purifier that not only manages to scrub 99 percent of airborne contaminants from the air, but also manages to do so while consuming a very small amount of energy.

The aptly named Humanair purifier uses what Humanscale is calling Clean Air Zone technology to clear pollutants, dust, and biological contaminants from the air around you. It features a reusable and recyclable paper filter, and an LED light that warns you when the filter needs to be changed. And unlike most other purifiers, which tend to be noisy, Humanscale says that its new purifier "operates in virtual silence with no noticeable breeze," so you'll barely even know it's there. It also doesn't produce any ozone.

But even though the Humanair is a fairly powerful device, it still manages to be very energy efficient, consuming a scant 22 watts of power. The purifier will be available this October for $299.

Installing solar panels in your home is a great way to reduce energy bills, but for most of us it's also prohibitively expensive, often costing upwards of $10,000. But Clarian Power is hoping to make things a little easier by introducing the Sunfish solar power module, which is expected to be priced between $599 and $799.

In addition to costing less, the Sunfish is also much easier to install. You simply plug it in to any wall outlet. There's no additional wiring or installations required, so you won't have to worry about hiring an electrician or contractor. Clarian says that once you bring it home the device can be up and running in close to an hour. The Sunfish also comes with built in Wi-Fi, so you can monitor its performance via software like Google PowerMeter.

But though it's cheaper and simpler to use and install, the Sunfish won't be able to power an entire home. It will reduce your energy bills instead of getting rid of them all together. A 200W Sunfish, for example, would be enough to offset the lighting costs for an average home, while the 1kW version could power all of your household appliances.

Though no firm date has been set, Clarian hopes to have Sunfish in stores by next year.

Via New York Times.

Gardening can be a very rewarding experience, but it does require time and dedication. So it's a good thing Kevin Cheng's new planter design is not only solar powered, but also almost entirely self-sustaining, letting you have a small garden even if your thumb isn't quite green.

The planter uses solar energy to power a condensation system, which collects moisture from the air that's then used to keep the plants moist. And if that isn't geeky enough for you, the planter also records the water and light input of the type of plant you're trying to grow, and then uses that data to control water flow and maximize plant growth. The device also features both a cold and a heat sink, which are used to regulate the plant's temperature, ensuring it always stays at room temperature.

Cheng designed the planter for dye solar cell manufacturer Solaronix, in an attempt to integrate the new cell technology into everyday products. Unfortunately, this most likely be quite some time before a design like this ever becomes commercially available.

Via Treehugger.

If you're ever unlucky enough to get lost at sea, there are two main things you'll have to deal with (besides the bickering of your raft mates): the weather, and a lack of fresh drinking water. The charmingly named SeaKettle aims to solve both of these problems by providing shelter and a process that desalinates seawater, making it drinkable.

A U.S. nominee for the Dyson design award, the SeaKettle uses a process that involves pumping sea water to a reserve where it is then subject to evaporation. Once the evaporated water hits the top of the raft and condenses, it then trickles down to four conveniently placed drinking pouches inside the raft. According to the creators, the raft can provide enough water for up to five passengers.

The insulated raft, meanwhile, is comprised of a number of different materials--including vinyl, PVC, Gore-Tex, and Ripstop vinyl--all designed to help protect passengers from the elements.

Via Inhabitat.

It doesn't get any bigger than this. Scotland's Atlantis Resources has unveiled what is being described as the world's largest tidal turbine: 73 feet tall, 1,300 tons, and with rotors nearly 60 feet across. The AK-1000 as it's known, features two sets of rotors designed to harness both the ebb and flow of flood tides, and that could potentially create enough energy to power 1,000 homes.

"It is one of the harshest environments on the planet," Chief Executive Tim Cornelius told the BBC, discussing Scotland's Pentland Firth. "In order to get a robust turbine we have had to make what we call ultimately the dumbest, simple but most robust turbine you could possibly put in such a harsh environment."

The AK-1000 should also have a minimal impact on marine life: its slow moving blades move only six to eight times per minute. The turbine is currently being sent off for testing in Eday, one of the Orkney islands north of Scotland, before being moved to its permanent location in Pentland Firth.

It's important to keep a flashlight on hand in case of emergencies, but for the most part they're relegated to sitting in a drawer. A new design by Jia Dai aims to make the device a bit more useful by turning it in to a lamp as well.

The flashlight simply splits apart, revealing a very attractive hanging lamp. Turning it in to a lamp not only gives the flashlight duel functions, but it also serves another practical purpose: since it's solar powered, keeping the flashlight out where it can receive sunlight will ensure that the batteries are always fully charged.

Unfortunately, it looks as though the MIA Electric Flashlight, as it's called, is just a prototype created by a student at the University of Gotherburg in Sweden, and so may not ever make its way in to commercial production.

Via Inhabitat.

The price of LED light bulbs has dropped below the $20 mark, as the Home Depot has started selling the 40 watt EcoSmart A19 LED for $19.97 on its website.

Traditionally, LED lights have been much more expensive than their incandescent counterparts, but the price seems to be slowly creeping down. And though $20 might seem like a lot, the product page says that each bulb will save you an estimated $200 over the course of its life. The bulbs are also much more efficient and last a good deal longer: the A19 is estimated to last around 46 years, though the Home Depot only warranties it for five years.

Currently only available online, the bulb is expected to make its way into Home Depot's numerous retail locations in September.

Via New York Times.

The recently unveiled Pure water bottle was a great idea, utilizing a wind-up UV light to purify water, making it drinkable. Unfortunately, it was just a prototype and isn't currently available for purchase. Now SteriPen has unveiled a similar device, which will be available starting next month.

Dubbed the Sidewinder, the new bottle features a crank activated UV bulb to purify the water, as well as an LED light that turns green when the water is drinkable. It can hold a liter of water, though there's currently no word as to what the bottle is actually made of. There is one catch, though: the Sidewinder will cost a whopping $99.95, a significantly higher cost compared to other reusable water bottles, even stylish ones made out of bamboo and glass.

Via Gizmodo.