And a team of IBM researchers is developing a super-efficient solar concentrating dish that could collect 80 percent of incoming sunlight and convert it into energy.

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One option is to combine a Stirling engine with a solar concentrator resembling a satellite dish that can harness the power of 1, 000 suns.

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At that time, the probe will be in sight of the dish and its solar panels will also be flooded with sunlight to power onboard systems.

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An IBM-led group is working on a new collector dish that could avoid that damage while taking a big step forward in solar power efficiency.

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