Google plays with solar fire

Ever wonder what happens when you focus on sunlight-concentrating lens on a penny? A few of the geeks at Google’s Santa Monica office did more than wonder … they spent a few lunch hours trying it out.

Using a lightweight Fresnel lens, the Googlers trained what they estimated at 1,000 watts of solar power on a US penny, which is made of copper-coated zinc. Left in the lens’ focal point — the hottest spot — the internal zinc actually melted away while the copper remained intact.

Focused just so, however, the lens actually heated the penny’s two metals enough to make them mix together, creating a shiny gold brass penny.

Pennies were only the start for the Google guys, though. You can check out their blog to see what happens when concentrated solar power is trained on a variety of other things, including aluminum cans, popcorn, bacon and eggs.

Next up, they say: marshmallows!