Solar Powered Clothing May Provide Electricity In Future

Clothes, soon could be generating electricity, if Aussie boffins succeed in their research. Researchers are exploring the possibility of installing solar panels in people"s clothing to generate electricity.

The project to develop small solar panels is among the research initiatives to have won funding from Australian Research Council (ARC), an agency of the federal government.

Overall, the government is funding 1100 research projects.

Science Minister Kim Carr hopes that these initiatives will produce significant benefits.

"I would like to congratulate all of the successful researchers and institutions that have been selected for funding,'the Herald Sun quoted Carr as saying.

"I look forward to hearing about the outcomes and benefits you produce for Australia,'added the minister.

Senator Carr revealed that an independent and rigorous panel had judged applicants for the grants.

The funding will be used to study everything from protecting the Tasmanian Devil from the deadly facial tumour disease to maintaining public health during heatwaves.

There will also be a study about the interactions between humans and robots.

While researchers in South Australia will study the most appropriate support services for grandparents who do plenty of childcare, turning wastewater into drinking water will be studied in Western Australia