Part of the Mathmos Modern range of lights that don't look and/or act like traditional lamps, the Bubble is a ball of silicone-based material that lights up when you give it a bit of a squeeze. Squeeze it again and its glow (soft in daylight, subtly impressive at night) will vanish. Some people have said that handling a Bubble that's been on for a short while actually "feels like flesh". That's not the worst analogy we've come across, nor is it the best, but cupping a Bubble actually feels like (wait for it) holding a glowing illuminated ball of silicone - strangely tactile and very nice indeed. But it's also like your bit of blanky when you were three or that irritating desk 'thing' that always seems to be between your fingers, in that the actual act of supporting a Bubble in your hands is far more pleasing than it has any right to be. It's supposed to be for gently illuminating one's surroundings... The initial five minutes of crystal ball jokes and wizard impressions aside, the Mathmos Bubble is many things to many people; a unique source of light; a guaranteed talking point; a supreme fiddly thing; spot-on when nipping out for a smoke before bedtime or when the embers of a barbeque are fading; a not-harsh-at-all light for late-night moves... Mathmos Bubble ships complete with charger - 5W Max, Output 4.5V regulated 200mA. Operating temperature range 5°-35° ambient. On board NiMh batteries - full charging time 12-14 hours. The Mathmos Bubble is best charged overnight (much like a mobile or a MiniDisc player) which provides at least four hours of light.