My 10 year old received this a a birthday gift.
It is a large glass dome, made of thinnish glass, so be careful around young children, fixed to a plastic base. It runs from the mains, on 12v, via a lead that is approx 1.5m long, complete with the small transformer on the plug.
As soon as it is turned on, the electric discharges start, coming from the central orb inside the glass to the inside edge of the glass dome. It is both amazing and fantastic, the lights curl and flicker about, almost as if living, then when you put your hand or a finger on the glass the discharges are attracted to it. As you move your finger about so the light follows it. There are quite a lot produced at any one time so giving off quite a bright purple glow.
Everyone in our house loves it - and this would make a great gift for any child, male or female, young or old, or indeed for any trendy young adults.
I think this a a great value and unusual gift that you can't go wrong with.