Part of the reason that solar cells aren't on top of every roof everywhere harvesting energy is that they're expensive, and part of the reason that solar cells are expensive is because they're made with exotic elements like indium. How about, let's instead make them with one of the top five most common elements in the entire Universe: say hello to the all-carbon solar cell.

Solar cells work best when you leave them out in the sun all day. In order to leave them out in the sun all day, however, you have to leave them out in the sun all day, and most electronics will fry themselves when exposed to concentrated heat like that. Solution? Spin them right 'round, baby, and boost your juice by 20 times.

The idea of a beautiful solar panel probably seems like a bit of a stretch, unless you dig rectangular, mirrored panels. But German architect André Broessel saw a way to make solar panels (well, really, solar-gathering shapes) beautiful while also making them more efficient. He made them into enormous spheres.

Tokelau, a small island nation, is officially becoming the first habited place on Earth to completely rely upon solar for its energy needs. Tokelau is a tiny group of coral islands that have up to now used diesel fuel for the daily needs of its roughly 1,400 residents. Within the next few weeks, the nation will make the historic switch to solar.