Gibralter-based Cool Chips plc unveiled a prototype cooling/refrigerating mechanism using quantum mechanical electron tunneling as the primary cooling mechanism. The prototypes are small electronic devices resembling computer chips. When an electric current is applied, one side of the chip becomes hot and the other cold, as electrons "tunnel" across a 1-to-10 nanometer gap separating the two sides, carrying heat with them. Among Cool Chips' gee-whiz claims is that a panel of its cooling chips five inches square will supply enough cooling power for an entire house. If it works, it may eliminate the need for pipes in a/c systems.