Make Your Own Solar Cell

You can buy cheap solar cells from Radio Shack, but where's the fun in that? This oldie but goodie article from scitoys.com shows you how to make your own solar cells from cheap materials without using any special tools. They might not be quite as efficient as the ready-made units, but the completed product can generate up to 50 microamps in bright sunlight.

Are Manufacturing Jobs Moving?

Automation, not some foreign government, is the chief cause of manufacturing job losses worldwide. Or so claims this Control Design column. The author uses compelling facts and figures to show how automation destroys manufacturing jobs by increasing productivity. But according to this article, there's no need to worry because that process is a good thing. Increased productivity, it notes, boosts living standards across the globe. It also generates the capital needed to create other jobs.