This Human Powered Light Bulb is the perfect credit crunch gift for the friend who has everything. It works by converting static electricity into illumination, although of course you won’t be able to light up your house with the little critters. But you knew that, right? And as an added bonus you’ll avoid static shocks as you walk across the carpet. Bargain! $4.95.
Hold on to one of the light bulb wires and walk across your carpet, dragging your feet as you go.. This builds up a charge of static electricity that discharges through the light bulb in your hand. You power the bulb! Try it in a darkened room to see the full glow. You need to generate static electricity (think enough to get a small shock when you touch something metal.) That is how the bulb works. If you generate a large enough charge, the bulb glows in free air.
That's so ingenious.