InventorSpot

  Recent advances in science and the invention of new artificial materials with unusual properties has given rise to a plethora of new inventions. In particular, a new material called RQS3 shows great potential for use in future products.

You might be under the impression that most Chinese innovation is happening in research labs and universities. Well, let me take you on a quick tour of rural China for a second, where an uncanny amount of do-it-yourself contraptions are being created and assembled not by scientists -- but by farmers and laborers!

EK Xtrai sensor protects your bikes, boat and racks attached to your car roof rack.

Scosche Industries, innovator of mobile electronics and iPod accessories since 1980 has recently announced its release of their solar powered Bluetooth speakerphone. Scosche calls the, handsfree talking while driving and solar-powered combined, device the solChat. So it is safe and powered by the sun.

The following are my picks for the best St. Patrick's day ever, with a few post-St. Patrick's day reconciliation-style inventions thrown in for good measure.

An incredible combination of warmth, comfort and lightweight construction, the Therm-a-Rest Neo Air, set for retail next month, is setting a new standard in camping mats.

In today's recessionary world, its become exceedingly difficult to make time for ourselves and the others we care for. With job lay-offs, the decline of 401Ks and wage decreases, we are spending more time worrying about our finances than taking care of things that still need to be accomplished. Cutting the lawn, walking the dog, tutoring your child are tasks that still need to be tended to, but sometimes overlooked. With our spirits dampened, we fore-go even the basic necessities of our everyday lives.What if you could go to a Time Bank and make a withdrawal of time to assist you during this trying period?

Yuken Teryua doesn't do it for the environment. He doesn't just do it for politics either. He just takes regular household items that would otherwise be thrown away and he turns them into art for what seems is the love of art.

Don't you ever just wish that the common easy to care for and affordable flowers were beautiful and had vivid coloring? That's were Vivid Illusions comes in. Vivid Illusions comes in a wide variety of hues and promises to be able to radically alter and enhance the color of any flower it's fed to.

The new Timex Expedition WS4 makes using all your watch features easier than ever.

While we all try and do our part to save the environment, artist John Dahlsen makes art from it.

What do Grammy-award winning artist Seal, the Sierra Club and the Facebook Market Place have in common? The Sale For a Cause tab where Facebook members can sell items and then donate the money they receive to the Sierra Club Foundation. It is an easy way to raise money for an environmental cause.

For many, winter is a long, horrible time of year spent indoors waiting the arrival of spring. With the right gear, it doesn't have to be. Check out some fun little devices that will make winter your favorite time of year!

Edgar Mueller is an artist that creates way more than your ordinary sidewalk art.

InventorSpot.com is pleased to announce the addition of another writer to our blogging team. Chris Weiss is a freelance writer who has dabbled in everything from politics to travel. Like many men (and women) out there, Chris is somewhat obsessed with the latest gadgets and technological breakthroughs. As a snowboarder, mountain biker and all around outdoor sports nut, Chris has a particular affinity toward gadgets that are designed to pull you out of the hairiest wilderness survival situations or simply make the outdoors more fun. Chris will be covering gadgets with a slight emphasis on outdoors and fitness-related items. You can check out his amazing finds here.

Should some things just not be reusable? Personally speaking I don't have a problem with using recycled toilet paper. Sure it isn't soft toilet paper, but it also doesn't require deforestation or the use of dangerous chemicals to make it. What I'm not so sure about is going a step further, for the sake of the environment or my wallet, and using reusable Wallypop wipes. 

Most people have a love-hate relationship with both bugs and waking up on time, with one company combining the two to hopefully inspire more love in their customers than hate.

As I wrote 2 weeks ago, March 10th will mark the 50th anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising in China, and the 1 year anniversary of last years riots. Well, reports are now coming in via Twitter, Fanfou, and the web that Youtube is now blocked for some users in China, just as it was blocked in the wake of the Tibet riots 1 year ago.