Intel said it is researching technology to harvest free energy from the environment, which could lead to devices such as mobile phones running for indefinite periods without recharging. Intel is working on tiny sensors that can capture energy from sources such as sunlight and body heat to power personal electronic devices such as MP3 players, cell phones, portable handheld gaming devices, etc.

Intel is also looking at powering a mobile phone by converting the energy the user creating simply by moving the phone's trackball. Additionally, the radiation of cell phone or TV signals might also be used to power devices. One example given is an accelerometer buried in the wall of a building that could automatically recharge itself by harvesting the energy of radiation from a cell phone tower.

That's very comforting to know that Intel plans to scavenge radiation that is beamed all around us from cell towers, TV towers, etc. to generate electricity. While I like free electricity just as much as the next gadget loving, electricity-sucking freak, I'm thinking I'd rather pay a few cents to power my gadgets and not be glowing green in a few years. Then again, The Simpsons is going on 20 seasons with Homer working in a nuclear plant for 20+ years, so maybe that whole radiation thing causing cancer is just one vast conspiracy.

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