Innovation News
Interested in the latest news on cool, interesting and novel ideas, innovations and inventions from around the globe?
We write daily on creative new ideas. noteworthy and interesting new products and innovations, and recent discoveries and breakthroughs. Plus, we focus on news that would be interesting to inventors.
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10 Chindogu: The Art Of Intentionally Making A Useless Invention
by Myra Per-Lee
The Japanese say they invented it, but maybe they were just the first to name it. The name, Chindogu, is becoming universally known and used to describe inventions that are useless. Well, I don't know about Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson or the prolific inventor Leonardo da Vinci, but haven't most inventors created some useless stuff? In fact, mostly useless stuff?
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2 comments Colorful Desktop Paper Shredder Cuts Cards & Opens Mail
by Steve Levenstein
Who says paper shredders have to be functional and dull? The SE.CU.MO F-150 from Meiko Shokai takes form and functionality to a whole new level with bright colors and a cutting edge (sorry) design.
Social Search Wars: Aardvark vs Yahoo Answers vs Mahalo vs ChaCha vs Formspring.me
by Ron Callari
During the last ten years, search engines have basically provided us
with information retrieval (IR) from strangers. We have relied on the
credibility of these search results based on algorithms determining
their relevancy and authority. In turn, content producers learned to
optimize their pages to obtain higher page rankings. Over time,
satisfied with the premise if 'Google says its so, who's to argue?' we
accepted what was delivered. However the need for human interaction is
not lost to the 21st Century and the desire to connect through search is
evident with the entre' of a new type of IR - appropriately named 'social
search.'
Guinness Record Goes To Highest Price Water Bottle: "Acqua di Cristallo Tributo a Modigliani”
by Toby
Designer Fernando Altamirano, who previously dressed Cognac Dudognon Heritage Henri IV in the most expensive cognac bottle in the world, recently sold his newly-designed water bottle for $60,000, winning his second Guinness record for the highest priced bottle sold at auction. Proceeds for the sale were donated to a foundation to stop global warning.
Cross-dressing Dogs At Easter: 8 Dog Bunnies & 1 Dog Chick
by Lady Bee
Dogs may be in the closet all year long, but Easter gives them an acceptable time to come out of the closet and cross dress.
Bunny rabbit costumes are so popular with dogs because they get to
wear them three times a year - Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.
What's the matter? You never heard of the Christmas Bunny?
Human-Tested Nanobot Delivers New Cancer Therapy With Success!
by T Goodman
There's often a big difference between how a drug or method of
delivery works in a lab and how successful it is in human trials. So,
it's big news for researchers from the California Institute of
Technology (CalTech) that they were able, for the first time, to
successfully kill cancer cells in human patients using a new RNA interference (RNAi) therapy delivered via a special nanobot.
@ Symbol Officially Becomes An Icon In MoMA's Architecture & Design Collection
by Toby
Yes... @. The Museum of Modern Art, (MoMA) acquired the @ symbol, and
it was free! It is the latest acquisition to the New York City's iconic
Museum of icons, and you have to admit that @ is an icon! The history
of @ might surprise you, but not its use, which is typed by more than a
billion people every day!
Scientists Tackle Way To Lose Weight By Eating
by T Goodman
Scientists from Newcastle University in the
United Kingdom reported progress in their efforts to tackle obesity
with a natural fibre which, if eaten, could reduce the amount of fat
taken up by the body by 75 percent. It's a seaweed fiber called alginate.
Brands Still Sitting On The Social Media Fence
by Ron Callari
With unique users of 73.5 million on Twitter and 400 million on Facebook, it doesn't seem feasible that in 2010 organizations would not be utilizing social media as their primary branding tool . Yet a good number of firms and regions around the world are still sitting on the proverbial fence. Why?
Debunking Health Care Reform Myths In The 11th Hour
by Ron Callari
While this blog was written one day prior to a
watered version of the health care reform act moving to its final vote,
there are still many in the U.S. who continue to wade through the
misconceptions. Far from following the health care models of other
countries and after over fifty years of fighting for some form of
reform, if you're a 'dummy' like me, you may still not be as
knowledgeable as you'd like regarding this revolutionary new
legislation. However when dealing with the facts on some of the major
issues, I was able to research some of the more topical myths that can
be debunked.
Laid Off, A Chemist Invents A Very Relevant Gadget: The Magic Toob Lampshade Leveler
by Myra Per-Lee
I suspect your response to a lampshade leveler is going to be "So
what." Mine was too... until I learned how universally relevant this
little gadget is now, and will be in the next few years.
Another Deadly Superbug? The Mayo Clinic May Have A Control For C.diff
by T Goodman
Perhaps you've heard about Clostridium difficile or C. difficile, or C. diff. It's been spreading more and more every year through hospitals and other health care facilities to the point where in some regions, like the southeast U.S., it is even more aggressive than the more well-known superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bug. But others can get it, even if they are generally healthy and not in a hospital setting.
'Invisibility' From Claude Rains To SXSWi Augmented Reality
by Ron Callari
If you're a Harry Potter fan, you're probably familiar with the concept
of an invisibility cloak. Slip this magical garment over your
head and to the eyes of of the beholder, you vanish. Well Muggles,
science has some good news for you -invisibility is quickly becoming a
reality.
Dead Man's Body Parts Walking: How Much Is Your Dead Body Worth?
by Ron Callari
When veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke
died in 2004 few suspected that he was yet to uncover his greatest news
story, postmortem. What happened to his body as it lay in a funeral home
would reveal a story of modern day grave robbery that was stranger than
fiction. As macabre as it might sound, dead body parts is big business
and has opened up a grisly black market that gives a whole new
meaning to "better off dead than alive."
10 Mid-March Medical News Shorts For Those Who Like Them Brief
by T Goodman
There is so much medical and health news coming out daily, it's hard to keep up with it. I attempt to cover what I think are the most interesting and most relevant stories to our readers, but miss so many that fit into that big pond. So today, I thought I would cover more news in less space by blurbing instead of blogging. These are stories that have come out in the last few days. I'll start with something on the light side....
Chris Hughes Using Social Media Engagement To Expand 'The Good Web'
by Ron Callari
Non-profit social networks are gaining prominence online. The genre of
sites known as "The Good Web" are championed by people like Corey
Szopinksi and Jane
McGonigal who have furthered a good number of causes using social
media as their conduit. Entering this arena is Chris
Hughes, a wunderkind of sorts, unknown to the general public, but
widely known in social networking circles and the Democratic National
Party.
Japanese 'Maid Trains' Hope Miniskirts Will Maximize Ridership
by Steve Levenstein
Two train lines in Japan's Ibaraki prefecture aim to sweep passengers off their feet this weekend. Six young ladies in full-out Akihabara maid costumes have been hired to serve refreshments, cosplay style.
Google TV & 3rd Party Developers Anticipate The Web/TV Meld
by Ron Callari
As ubiquitous as Google is, it's no surprise it will soon become
one of the pioneers in melding TV with the Web. So much so, in the next
couple of months it will actually provide 3rd party developers and
outside software engineers with a toolkit to help develop what Google TV
will eventually look like.
LG 2010 Competition For The Best Design Of The Future Mobile Phone
by Myra Per-Lee
Wouldn't you love to be the designer of the future mobile phone -
one so revolutionary that the competition trips over each other getting
out copies of it? Well, for the third year, LG Mobile Phones is giving
you a chance. So, start imagining!
Golf Course + Safari Park = 'Lion Woods'
by Steve Levenstein
Forget Tiger Woods, here's 'Lion Woods'. A Japanese golf course happens to be located immediately adjacent to a popular safari park. Golfers are advised to stay out of the rough... and I ain't lion.
Researchers Test Freezing Of Breast Cancer Tumors
by T Goodman
A small but promising study was conducted by Peter J. Littrup, M.D. and
his team at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit,
MI, in which 13 women with breast cancer were treated with a minimally
invasive technique - image guided cryotherapy, the freezing to death of
tumor cells.
Solar Roadways Prototype Built and Could Win an Award
by Gloria Campos
Last year, in September, I wrote an article about Solar Roadways and their $100,000 grant, by the Department of Transportation, to build a solar powered road prototype. They did exactly what they set out to do and they built a prototype. Now they are finalist for an award.
Colorful Pocket Ashtray Snuffs Your Ciggies
by Steve Levenstein
Smokers will love the stylish, functional, portable Mistletoe Pocket Ashtray that keeps used cigarette filters out of sight and scent. Non-smokers will love it for the same reason.
Ingenious 'Flow' Lighting For The Third World By Igendesign
by Toby
... Flow and other self-maintaining public lighting are low cost, low
maintenance, and low footprint solutions to the reduction of overload
on municipal electric grids. Besides... Flow is elegant in form,
function, and beauty.
PayPal vs Square Are Bumping & Beaming Money Via iPhones
by Ron Callari
Whether you've been a loyal PayPal user for the last 10+ years or are
willing to put your trust in the hands of one of the Twitter co-founders,
you may be one of the early pioneers to use iPhones as the new form
of currency. Bumping and beaming financial transactions via smartphones may be the missing
link to a time when there will no longer be a need for actual money to
exchange hands.
