Innovation

Restored Fresco Curry: A Tasteful Tribute to a Terrible Touch-Up

by Steve Levenstein

Japanese artist, blogger and curry cook Takeda Take has taken the disastrously (but hilariously) botched restoration of the Spanish fresco “Ecco Homo” to a new, delicious level.

Hello Kitty Bathroom Tissue Really Makes Scents

by Steve Levenstein

Hello Kitty doesn't just look cute, Sanrio's most popular character EVAR now enchants our olfactory bulbs with the sweet scent of strawberry or melon! And what better place for Japan's queen of cute to emanate these awesome aromas then your bathroom?

Burger King Japan's “BK Pumpkin” Burger is a Happy Halloween Meal

by Steve Levenstein

Burger King Japan is rolling out the limited edition, sliced squash embellished “BK Pumpkin” Whopper on October 26th, just in time for Halloween. Two slices of fried pumpkin not enough for you? Drop an extra 100 yen on the “Pumpkin Bomb”, a BK Pumpkin with 10 (count 'em, 10!) pumpkin slices.

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Put Your Money Where Your Tweet Is? Battleships, Horses & Bayonets, Oh My!

by Ron Callari

With the presidential election only 2 weeks out, both campaigns are fully cognizant of the impact of social media and how one meme can sway opinion within minutes of it being uttered. At no other time in U.S. history has the combination of messaging on TV and Twitter become so intertwined. However instead of paying the hefty fees of a TV ad, the presidential contenders incur less cost by purchasing Promoted Tweets and Trends, and ironically utilize the free medium of a TV debate to drive the traffic.

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“Thunder God Vine” Shows Promising Results Against Pancreatic Cancer

by China.new

“Thunder God Vine”, a staple of traditional Chinese medicine, has proven to be remarkably effective in destroying pancreatic cancer tumors in lab mice. Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center state the next step is beginning clinical trials of the drug involving human pancreatic cancer patients.

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Can 'Romnesia' Be Used In 'Words With Friends?'

by Ron Callari

Words With Friends is a multi-player word game developed by Zynga. It's popularity got a boost from Alex Baldwin's infamous riff with a stewardess when he refused to turn off the game during take-off. Similar to the rules of Scrabble, players can choose to play with a friend or a random player found online. President Obama has chosen to play the game with undecided voters using a new word he coined this past week. . . called "Romnesia"

3D Printed Resin Clock Radio Features Retro Nixie Tube Display

by Steve Levenstein

Japanese designer electronics manufacturer Inter-Culture has introduced a trio of retrofuturistic nylon resin clock radios that combine cutting-edge 3D printing technology with the warm Cold War-era glow of high-voltage Nixie tubes.

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Attention Economy: Driver Behind Twitter's Acquisition of Video Firm Vine?

by Ron Callari

Remember the political refrain “it’s the economy, stupid!” first uttered in the 90′s by Bush the First and probably more applicable today then it was then, as evidenced by the vitriol spewing all over the current contentious presidential election campaigns?

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Students Make Transportation Energy Efficient In Viet Nam

Solar vehicle invented by Vietnamese students

by Myra Per-Lee

Many international universities are fostering students' natural curiosity and ingenuity to create new products to help their fellow citizens. Such is the case at HCM City University of Transport where, as the name implies, Vietnamese students focus on developing new, efficient forms of transportation. Recently, they revealed prototypes of the students' solar-run scooter and a new battery-operated wheelchair that can be produced at a much lower cost that those produced in western countries.

Brass Knuckles iPhone Case: Tough Love for Your Smartphone

by Steve Levenstein

The Knucklecase for the Apple iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S cushions your smartphone from life's hard knocks while helping callers get a grip on any situation. Sure it's as subtle as a punch in the nose but if you don't like it... tough!

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Calling All Inventors! Edison Nation Launches Open Search For Innovative Products

by Myra Per-Lee

Have a unique and patentable idea that you've not been able to move off first base? Edison Nation has just the answer for you in its newest search for ideas. It's an open search! So, you can submit one or more of your ideas in any category of products - home, garden, office, etc. to the Open Innovative Product Search.

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Innovative Program For Alzheimer's Patients With Sundowning Syndrome

by T Goodman

If you've had a loved one with advanced Alzheimer's disease, you likely know what sundowning syndrome is, even if you've never heard the term before. Alzheimer's patients with this syndrome either don't sleep at night or wake up after a short sleep and may create havoc, waking up caregivers and disturbing others in the home, possibly for hours. But a care center in New York City has an innovative program for night owl Alzheimer's patients, that lets them 'play,' while their caregivers sleep....

Wearable Tail Reads Your Brainwaves, Wags to Match Your Mood

by Steve Levenstein

Neurowear, the creators of those bizarre Necomimi cat ears, have taken the field of brainwave actuated mood indicators to a new, lower level with "Shippo", the world's first mind-controlled wearable tail!

The Effects Of 'Cute' On Human Behavior And Performance

by T Goodman

What about looking at this image could possibly affect your subsequent behavior? If you think this image is cute, look at some similar ones of baby animals; they might have a positive impact on your performance at work today.

Kit Kat & Strawberry McFlurry? Gimme A Break!

by Steve Levenstein

The trick to McDonald's Japan's latest sweet treat involves combining Kit Kat chocolate bars, crushed strawberries and luscious soft ice cream to create the sinfully delicious Kit Kat & Strawberry McFlurry! Boo hoo, it's only available through the end of October!

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Chinese Starbucks Coffeehouse Serves Lattes of Luxury

by China.new

Starbucks' success in China owes much to the global coffee company's strategy of harmonizing their stores and menu with local culture and customs. Take the new Starbucks Coffeehouse in Fuzhou, for example, which channels the ambiance of a classic thousand-year-old Song Dynasty garden.

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Silk May Be The Key To Dissolvable Electronics

Silk-silicon implant dissolves as programmed

by T Goodman

When I read about the dissolvable electronic medical implants created by Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto of Tufts University and John A. Rogers at the University of Illinois, my first thought was what about dissolving all my old cell phones packed up in my garage? And, sure enough...

Bandai's Magic Pets Populate & Personalize Your Water Bottle

by Steve Levenstein

Strangers won't mess with one's personal portable potables thanks to Bandai's Magic Pets, plastic critters who “live” in your water bottle, personalizing it and keeping owners entertained all the while.

10 Ig Nobel Prizes For 2012: Recognition Of Funny, Obscure Research

by Myra Per-Lee

You gotta love the Russian company SKN for converting old Russian ammunitions into diamonds, and didn't you always want to know how many steps you'd have to take to create the inevitable splash of coffee on your carpet? But the SpeechJammer in 2012? A machine that delays speech and makes one stutter is decades old, and it actually has the practical application of helping stutterers speak without stuttering.

Jon Stewart vs Bill O'Reilly To Beat The Obama-Romney Debates?

by Ron Callari

He's done it before. Back in 2010 when the Tea Party Republcans helped overtake the majority in the House of Representatives, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart jumped into the debate ring with his co-faux newscaster collaborator, Stephen Colbert. Touted as the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear," the event was well attended in DC. This go-around Stewart has targeted Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News talk-show host to help iron out some of the pressing issues of this year's presidential election campaign.

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