The smallest of these chargers, which convert light into electricity, weighs just 4 ounces, has dimensions that are slightly larger than a sheet of paper, and can provide significant power to a soldier in the field without the need for an alternative fuel source.

ENGADGET: Alta Devices claims world's lightest, most efficient military solar chargers

What makes helium-3 so attractive as an alternative future fuel source is its environmentally friendly credentials, as it does not produce radioactive waste.

CNN: Mining the moon for a nuclear future