The sOccket may look like a normal soccer ball. But flip open its secret panel some night after practice and you’ll discover that it “converts kicks and headers into off-the-grid power.” Created by a New York nonprofit to benefit developing countries, the ball is made of a durable watertight foam rubber and generates energy thanks to magnetic rotors that are hidden inside. Future versions of the sOccket will be able to recharge a cell phone, but for now the internal battery can be used to power a water purifier or an LED lamp. For every ball sold in the U.S., another will be donated overseas in a region where soccer is popular but electricity scarce.
$100 (est.), soccket.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Xiao Zintong: China's controversial snooker championIn the Spotlight The 28-year-old was implicated in the sport's biggest match-fixing scandal before coming back from suspension to take the world title
-
The Y chromosome degrades over time and men's health is paying for itUnder the radar The chromosome loss is linked to cancer and Alzheimer's
-
One great cookbook: 'I Dream of Dinner (so you don't have to)'the week recommends The endless ease and versatility of a painless dinner
