And if you are going to the trouble of building mirrors to do that, you might as well go down the steam-generation route, which is a much more efficient way of producing electricity.

ECONOMIST: Solar power

If the London mascot designers decide not to go down the abstract route they will have plenty of animals to choose from, says Renata Kowalik, conservation programmes manager at the London Wildlife Trust.

BBC: How not to have an Olympic mascot nightmare

"I think it would be a dangerous route to go down because of the natural environment, " he said.

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"Despite having a committed workforce, Sogefi decided not to go down that route and sadly production ended yesterday with the loss of nearly 200 jobs, " she added.

BBC: Sogefi, Llantrisant: 190 jobs go as engine factory closes

DARPA's answer, of course, will be to go down the military route.

ECONOMIST: Racing robots