An impossible object?
At first glance Igor Lobanov’s Wormhole chair looks like an impossible object that could only exist as a computer physics simulation. But once you wrap your head around its zip-together design, it not only seems plausible, but also pretty genius.
Each chair is composed of two flat, but rounded, frame pieces that each fold into a C-shape and completely zip together…
Continue reading… “Does this zip-together chair bend the Laws Of Physics?”
Kyosemi’s Sphelar cells
Solar cell designs need to be aimed directly at the sun to be most efficient. But a company in Japan has come up with a clever new approach using spherical micro cells that can harness the sun’s rays from any direction.
Continue reading… “Spherical solar cells capture sunlight from all directions”
This delayed auditory feedback device makes it all but impossible for a human to speak.
Humans have been inventing new uses for guns ever since the first one was invented. Some guns shoot bullets; other guns shoot lasers. But a new gun that is a little strange and unsettling is being developed by Japanese researchers. The new gun shoots sound waves in an effort to disrupt and silence anyone who dares speak out of turn.
Those of us who merely watched the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake on screens got to witness something amazing: the resiliency and resourcefulness of the Japanese people. And we’re still seeing it as Japan prepares for future earthquakes. Here’s one example. Youichi Sakamoto invented a foundation structure that raises buildings on air pockets as soon as an earthquake starts…
Continue reading… “Inventor proposes levitating buildings on air cushions during earthquakes”
Sensors pick up the change when a fruit ripens or rots.
Have you ever taken a big gulp of milk only to find out then that the milk is sour.? A new technology will let you simply wave your phone over it–or any food–to get a verdict on whether it’s still edible.
Continue reading… “Edible silk sensors let you know if your food is spoiled”
Edible food containers.
Harvard University’s Wyss Institute’s Dr. David Edwards is the man behind the controversial (as in, the FDA plans to investigate its safety) breathable caffeine and other vitamins, has been working on a new futuristic food item: edible containers. They’ve already created tomato containers with gazpacho inside, among other treats.
Continue reading… “WikiCells – edible food containers”
Scan your food and stay safe with your smartphone.
If you’ve ever suffered from any kind of food poisoning you’d understandably see the genius in this little device. Engineers at UCLA have created a prototype scanner that attaches to your smartphone camera and checks out that great looking burger to make sure you’re in the clear from E. coli.
The phone attachment essentially turns your phone into portable fluorescent microscope that light up the harmful bacteria like a Black Sabbath poster under a black light…
Continue reading… “Smartphone sensor scans food for E. coli”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3A_lpEO0t8&hd=1[/youtube]
Kuraray Living and Hokkaido University have been working together to create a soft washable fabric woven with carbon nanotube coated fibers that produces heat when electricity is applied. So when it’s perfected, your electric blanket could get a lot less bulky.
Continue reading… “Heated farbric using carbon nanotube coated fibers”
Badgermin ain’t afraid to play nothin’!
David Cranmer is an eccentric maker of sculptures and musical instruments, such as the Furby Gurdy. By combining the musical abilities of the badger and the aesthetic appeal of a theremin, he has created the future of music. Watch a video of a performance after the jump…
Continue reading… “The Badgermin is a Stuffed Badger Theremin”
Sing all you want and don’t annoy others.
Are people getting tired of hearing you sing, and now they’re starting to shoot dirty look daggers into your heart, causing you to lose faith in your future career as a singer?
Then you need to get this plunger looking thing and strap it on your noisemaker. It’s called the Noiseless USB Karaoke Microphone and it just might save your life…
Continue reading… “The noiseless USB karaoke microphone can be a lifesaver”
Even the most efficient washing machines on the market use a lot of energy and water, especially if warm or hot water is involved. But this revolutionary concept from designer Elie Ahovi could change all that. The Orbit ditches the soap and water for the cleaning power of dry ice. It’s also silent and only takes a few minutes per load to boot…
Continue reading… “Floating washing machine uses dry ice to clean clothes in minutes”
The Harvard Monolithic Bee (or “Mobee”) pops up within an assembly scaffold,
which performs more than 20 origami assembly folds.
A new technique inspired by elegant pop-up books and origami will soon allow clones of robotic insects to be mass-produced by the sheet.
Devised by engineers at Harvard, the ingenious layering and folding process enables the rapid fabrication of not just microrobots, but a broad range of electromechanical devices…
Continue reading… “New “pop-up” technique spawns robotic insects”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.