The Sun is the ultimate source of the energy used by ecosystems here on Earth. Plants capture energy from sunlight and then other organisms eat the plants so that they can use the stored energy for themselves. Unlike other animals, humans need energy not just to keep our bodies going but also to power our machines. Most of this energy also comes from the Sun. Burning wood or fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas releases the Sun's energy that has been stored for perhaps millions of years. Wind and hydroelectric power are also dependent on the Sun, as it’s heat from the Sun that causes the wind to blow and water to evaporate from the oceans to form clouds. SUNNY SIDE UP The power of the Sun can also be harnessed directly by using photoelectric cells to generate electricity, or simply by using the Sun's rays as a source of heat. By concentrating the power of the Sun's rays, it is possible to make a simple cooker that can effectively cook scrummy scrambled eggs. TIMING IS EVERYTHING For the cooker to work, you’ll need to wait for a hot and sunny day when the Sun is strong. The best time is around midday when the Sun is high in the sky and its rays are at their most powerful. Remember to cover up so you don’t end up cooked like your eggs! What to do... 1. Take a shoebox and line the inside with kitchen foil, shiny side up. Tape or glue the foil in place making sure that the foil is smooth. 2. Draw three lines on the lid of the shoebox. One parallel to the long side of the lid, about 2cm in from the front edge and the other two lines 2cm in from both of the two short sides. Cut along these lines to make a flap, with the back edge of the lid acting as the hinge. 3. Glue or tape kitchen foil to the underside of the lid and the flap. 4. Prepare your food. Take an egg and scramble it in a mug with a little milk, pepper –pukka mate etc. Pour the mixture into a plastic sandwich bag and seal it. 5. Place the sandwich bag inside the box. 6. Put the lid on the box. 7. Position the box so that the maximum amount of Sun enters the box directly. Adjust the flap so that it reflects as much sunlight as possible into the box. You may need to prop the flap open at the correct angle with a small piece of wood or a lolly stick. 8. Watch as the heat from the Sun starts to cook the egg, making it solidify. Once the egg has started to cook, you may need to occasionally squish the contents of the sandwich bag around to make sure it is cooking evenly. Take care as the inside of the box and the sandwich bag will be hot! 9. Make sure the egg is thoroughly cooked before removing it. All you need now is the toast – can your cooker cook that too? For more information about solar cookers and how they can be used for ‘real’ cooking, have a look at the charity Journey to Forever ‘s website. Go back