Ever wondered if you could actually build a working solar panel at home without expensive equipment or an engineering degree? In this episode, Lakshmi Venkataraman walks you through creating a functional cuprous oxide solar cell using copper sheets, table salt, and basic household tools. Perfect for students ages 10 and up, parents, and educators looking for a meaningful hands-on science project, this guide demystifies the same photoelectric principles that Einstein won his Nobel Prize explaining—and that power industrial solar farms today.

• You can build a working solar cell on your kitchen table in 3-4 hours using copper flashing sheets, non-iodized table salt, and common household items—no specialized equipment required.

• The homemade cuprous oxide cell operates on identical photoelectric principles as commercia ...