Scientists beam solar power to Earth from SPACE - in major step towards unlimited clean energy

Solar panels on Earth already provide us with a clean source of power, but they can be a blot on the landscape and are practically useless when it's dark. Now, scientists in California have provided a solution – sending solar panels to space so they can harness the sun's power 24/7. In a world first, the researchers beamed solar energy to Earth from a spacecraft called MAPLE, which was launched to orbit in January. MAPLE is equipped with solar panels that can withstand'the harsh environment of space', including wild temperature swings and solar radiation. 'Space solar power' – a concept conjured by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1941 – could potentially yield eight times more power than solar panels at any location on Earth's surface.