Tomorrow's vote on 100th Object keeps solar in the news

The fifth of the five contenders for the 100th Object in A History of the World in 100 Objects was announced today: the pestle and mortar. The other four are a football shirt, a mobile phone, an Antarctic suit and - the one we're all rooting for - the solar-powered lamp and charger.

As its example of a solar-powered lamp and charger, the BBC's website features the D.light Nova Model. The 2010 Ashden Gold Award went to D.light Design for their work in bringing solar power to rural communities across the developing world.

It's been a newsworthy couple of weeks for solar. President Obama announced he was going to put solar panels back on the White House roof. President Nasheed of the Maldives personally installed solar panels on the roof of his residence. And this week in Los Angeles, there is the Solar Power International 2010. One CEO there says

The solar industry is wrapping up its most successful year ever. Solar is now the fastest growing energy industry in the U.S., employing nearly 100,000 Americans

Today's Guardian carries the news that installation levels in the UK are hitting five times what they were in 2009.

The name of the 100th object will be announced on Radio 4 tomorrow and feature in the broadcast on 22 October.

Pic. Ned Tozun from D.light Design receives his 2010 Ashden Award from Sir David Attenborough