Can a solar panel detect a laser pointer?

I saw a demonstration where a professor used a custom-built system consisting of: a speaker with a solar panel wired into the input line, and a laser pointer wired into the output line of an iPod.

When the iPod played, it caused the laser pointer to activate, sending the beam (and energy) to the solar panel, which powered the speakers.

He sent some music across the room with it. It was a great little project.