Getting electricity has always been a problem for the 173 people living in Nuevo Saposoa, a small village in Peru, South America.
Getting
electricity
has
always
been
a
problem
for
the
173
people
living
in
Nuevo
Saposoa
,
a
small
village
in
Peru
,
South
America
.
However, things went from bad to worse in March 2015 after heavy rains damaged the only power cables in the area.
However
,
things
went
from
bad
to
worse
in
March
2015
after
heavy
rains
damaged
the
only
power
cables
in
the
area
.
The villagers were forced to use oil lamps, which are not only expensive but also dangerous because of the harmful gases they produce.
The
villagers
were
forced
to
use
oil
lamps
,
which
are
not
only
expensive
but
also
dangerous
because
of
the
harmful
gases
they
produce
.
Luckily, researchers at the University of Technology (UT) in Lima, Peru heard about their problem and found a wonderful solution.
Luckily
,
researchers
at
the
University
of
Technology
(
UT
)
in
Lima
,
Peru
heard
about
their
problem
and
found
a
wonderful
solution
.
They made a lamp that can be powered by plants and soil, both of which can be easily found in the Amazonian rainforest where the village lies.
They
made
a
lamp
that
can
be
powered
by
plants
and
soil
,
both
of
which
can
be
easily
found
in
the
Amazonian
rainforest
where
the
village
lies
.
The lamp takes energy from a plant growing in a wooden box and uses it to light up an LED light bulb.
The
lamp
takes
energy
from
a
plant
growing
in
a
wooden
box
and
uses
it
to
light
up
an
LED
light
bulb
.
While that may sound amazing and even impossible, the science behind the ides is quite simple.
While
that
may
sound
amazing
and
even
impossible
,
the
science
behind
the
ides
is
quite
simple
.
As plants create their food (using the sun's energy, water and chemicals from the soil), they also produce waste which they return to the soil.
As
plants
create
their
food
(
using
the
sun
's
energy
,
water
and
chemicals
from
the
soil
)
,
they
also
produce
waste
which
they
return
to
the
soil
.
Tiny animals in the soil eat this waste and they produce electrons - the building blocks of electrical energy.
Tiny
animals
in
the
soil
eat
this
waste
and
they
produce
electrons
-
the
building
blocks
of
electrical
energy
.
The UT team put special sticks inside the soil to capture the energy and keep it in the lamp's batteries for later use.
The
UT
team
put
special
sticks
inside
the
soil
to
capture
the
energy
and
keep
it
in
the
lamp
's
batteries
for
later
use
.
The researchers say a single charge can power a 50-watt Led light for two hours - enough time for local villagers to get their evening work done.
The
researchers
say
a
single
charge
can
power
a
50-watt
Led
light
for
two
hours
-
enough
time
for
local
villagers
to
get
their
evening
work
done
.
The university gave ten Plant Lamps to the villagers of Nuevo Saposoa in October 2015.
The
university
gave
ten
Plant
Lamps
to
the
villagers
of
Nuevo
Saposoa
in
October
2015
.
So far, they have been a huge success!
So
far
,
they
have
been
a
huge
success
!
Elmer Ramirez, the UT professor who invented the lamp, believes the Plant Lamp could help improve the lives of many people, especially small rainforest communities, 42% of whom have no electricity.
Elmer
Ramirez
,
the
UT
professor
who
invented
the
lamp
,
believes
the
Plant
Lamp
could
help
improve
the
lives
of
many
people
,
especially
small
rainforest
communities
,
42
%
of
whom
have
no
electricity
.
Getting electricity has always been a problem for the 173 people living in Nuevo Saposoa, a small village in Peru, South America. However, things went from bad to worse in March 2015 after heavy rains damaged the only power cables in the area. The villagers were forced to use oil lamps, which are not only expensive but also dangerous because of the harmful gases they produce.  Luckily, researchers at the University of Technology (UT) in Lima, Peru heard about their problem and found a wonderful solution. They made a lamp that can be powered by plants and soil, both of which can be easily found in the Amazonian rainforest where the village lies. The lamp takes energy from a plant growing in a wooden box and uses it to light up an LED light bulb.  While that may sound amazing and even impossible, the science behind the ides is quite simple. As plants create their food (using the sun's energy, water and chemicals from the soil), they also produce waste which they return to the soil. Tiny animals in the soil eat this waste and they produce electrons - the building blocks of electrical energy. The UT team put special sticks inside the soil to capture the energy and keep it in the lamp's batteries for later use. The researchers say a single charge can power a 50-watt Led light for two hours - enough time for local villagers to get their evening work done.  The university gave ten Plant Lamps to the villagers of Nuevo Saposoa in October 2015. So far, they have been a huge success! Elmer Ramirez, the UT professor who invented the lamp, believes the Plant Lamp could help improve the lives of many people, especially small rainforest communities, 42% of whom have no electricity.