Her research into superconductivity, the electronic properties of carbon, thermoelectricity and the new physics at the nanometer scale have led to numerous scientific discoveries, with the potential for more.

If the heat concentration could be done without all the paraphernalia of mirrors, though, thermoelectricity’s inefficiency would be offset by the cheapness of the kit.

Thus about fifty years ago Œrsted, of Copenhagen, discovered the deflection of a magnetic needle by an electric current; and about the same time Thomas Seebeck, of Berlin, discovered thermoelectricity.