Actually, that Raytheon globe is way cool

Plexi base. You stick in three plexi sticks at angles. They provide three "fingers" to balance globe. Globe is real painted one inside plexi ball. You put it in a spot with any ambient light, and for some reason, the globe rotates slowly to the east, just like the real deal. No batteries, no wire, just this cool rotating globe about 5-6 inches in diameter.

Very neat.

Comments

[Matthew Garcia]

Sounds like there's a Crookes radiometer inside the semi-transparent globe. Hey, look at that - my B.S. in physics just turned useful!

[Tom Barnett]

It goes still in the dark, I now note. But it's quite majestic in its slow spin.

[Matthew Garcia]

Sounds pretty cool--you'll probably sit and stare at it for hours sometimes. The idea that the Crookes radiometer is light-driven is mistaken, although that's how the novelty companies market it. It's actually a thermodynamic effect that was explained by Einstein and Maxwell. IR radiation is apparently better than visible light at making it spin, so it would work even in the dark. The fact that Raytheon figured out how to make one into a globe that spins on its own is no surprise...put up a pic so we can all admire your award!

[David Sutton]

I tried to Google this but the only result that comes back is a link to the blog and Tom saying how cool this is. Where can one actually see the product, I have a niece (and a father) who would love one of these!