Many of our day-to-day necessities rely on processing chips: cell phones, MP3 players, computers, calculators and so on, and many of these devices use already efficient chips that require one volt of energy. Texas Instruments just isn't satisfied, it seems, as the company wants to cut that down to 0.3 volts.

Spearheaded by Professor Anantha Chandrakasan and Joyce Kwong, both of MIT, the team wants to consolidate the parts of a chip that provide and convert its energy right onto the chip's surface. It'll help make things more efficient, however they acknowledge that more complex manufacturing techniques are required to pull it off.

If Texas Instruments manages to successfully roll out the processor - which could happen in as little as five years - the power needed to keep the chips going would be so minimal that body heat or movement may be sufficient. What's this mean for you? Phones and devices with far longer battery life, smaller units thanks to less bulky batteries and overall more efficient technology.

Texas Instruments, via Tech.co.uk