In a world using up fossil fuels at an ever growing rate, renewable energy sources like solar power are becoming more and more valuable. But solar panels have a problem. A single panel can only capture so much sunlight and produce a limited amount of electricity. That’s why large solar farms consist of thousands and thousands of panels. And the more panels you need to generate power, the more expensive solar energy becomes. Which is why scientists are eager to find ways to make solar panels more powerful, and more efficient. One of the most intriguing and promising approaches is through nanotechnology. More specifically, researchers around the world are experimenting with carbon nanotubes–basically carbon atoms arranged in hollow tubes.