And pretty on the inside.

University professors coated one side of a 4.5 millimetre diameter lens with a 30 nanometre thick coat of gold film, which they then put on a sheet of glass also splashed with a helping of gold. After shining a laser beam at the space between the curved lens and the glass, a rainbow appeared trapped between the elements when looked down on with a microscope. No pot of gold appeared, but a little dancing McNulty, dressed in a leprechaun costume, could be seen under the rainbow. [Arxiv via New Scientist]

Image credit Carla216

Like other solar materials, the hybrid version relies on light that frees electrons emitted from atoms. However, in the hybrid, electrons remain free much longer than before. In fact, it emits electrons in two different energy states—a singlet state and a triplet state. Electrons emitted in the singlet state remain free for a time that is comparable to other solar materials, but electrons in the triplet state stay free up to 7 million times longer. The new material is currently in the development stages, but Ohio State has enough faith in the project to set aside $100 million for the research team to develop a commercial product within the next five years. [Ohio State via Nano Techwire via CleanTechnica via Inhabitat]

OK, so maybe it only looks cool if a) you just woke up from a 1977s cocaine-induced coma after a night in Studio 54, b) you can't resist the allure of the rainbow Apple and wear gold underpants, c) you were Snoop Dogg's stylist in Sensual Seduction or d) all of the above. Either way, I wonder how many pounds all that gold adds to the Air, and how many dollars it would subtract from my wallet.

Update: We talked with Alex Wiley from Computer Choppers, who gave us all the answers: "The weight hasn't noticeably changed since its plating. The jewelry may add an ounce or two, if that." According to Alex, the Air is a standard 1.6ghz/2gb/80GB, with a 24-karat gold plating, polished exterior, and flat/crystallite interior. The price: $5000 USD (including the new MBA). "Diamonds and jewelry depend on what the customer asks for," Alex points out, "the rainbow is 14-karat gold with 3.8ctw sapphires and adds another $3000 USD." The coolest thing: "You should see it light up when the screen turns on." [Computer Choppers]

The white iPod might have started it all off, but sure enough, it has been moved out of the spotlight.

Obviously there were the colorful mini's, but they never had a white option to begin with. The first true blow came with the shuffle going silver, exclusively.

But nobody thought much of this since it was just a shuffle, the lowest rung of the iPod totem poll. However, when the nano quickly followed suit and moved to a white-less lineup, a warning shot had definitely been fired.

Some buzz was generated by the obvious move to a color-only selection, but it didn't matter because we always will have our premium big daddy iPod sporting the purest color of all.

But then earlier today Steve struck the final nail into whitey's coffin, the iPod touch came sporting a svelte black look and the iPod classic went with black & silver color options. Nowhere was a white iPod to be found.

With one little event, Apple had dropped the color scheme that had started it all. Goodbye white iPod, you spun an entire electronics style movement, you will not soon be forgotten...as long as we have these stupid white earbuds to remind us.

Despite already having four walls covered in unicorns and rainbows, Gizmodo Tower just can't get enough of this timeless classic of decor. And for $38, why should we have to? (Note: We made up the whole thing about rainbow decor. Everyone who reads the site should know we've covered HQ in GI Joes and homemade booby traps. The kind without the traps, if you know what we mean.) [Product via gizmodude]