It is also a vital component of high-voltage wires, magnetic coatings for high-density hard disk drives, fiber optics, fiberglass, catalytic converters and spark plugs.

FORBES: Gold Is Good, These Five Metals May Be Better

The repeater is a like a high-voltage machine gun, for example, but with different upgrades and ammo.

FORBES: 'BioShock: Infinite' Review (part 2)

Based on Samsung's BSI low power process technology, the S5K3H2 is able to operate on 1.2 voltage levels enabling longer battery life for high-end mobile and smartphones.

ENGADGET: Samsung releases 8 and 12 megapixel CMOS smartphone sensors, shoots 1080p on the go

Their job is to convert high-voltage alternating current from the mains into low-voltage direct current for mobile phones, laptops, iPods and other electronic gadgets.

ECONOMIST: How a boring gadget saved $2 billion-worth of electricity

Severinsky's bright idea was to run the electric motor on a high voltage--say, 40 times the 14 volts that is standard for the electrical system in a gasoline car with a 12-volt battery.

FORBES: OutFront

Outages that used to last a few hours now can drag on for the better part of a week as repair crews contend with flooding, downed trees and snapped high-voltage power lines across vast regions.

FORBES: Preparing The Grid For The Next Superstorm

In 2009, the Center for American Progress sponsored the National Clean Energy Project, in which they detailed the implementation of an efficient, high-voltage grid that would extend from coast to coast.

WHITEHOUSE: Building a Clean Energy Economy