Ever write that masterpiece of a research paper that you can't wait to hand in and all of a sudden you spill your entire cup of coffee on it!! What now!? You don't have time to print out another new one. Have no fear, waterproof paper is here! What? That's right. Scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology have created a new type of paper that's waterproof, antibacterial, and even magnetic! Without losing the characteristics of paper that we all know and love, this will revolutionize the way kids can now stick their good grades on the fridge. The way this is done, in a nutshell of course, is they use the regular way to make paper and during the whole process, they interweave special monomers and nanoparticles into the fibers that give the paper these wonderful properties without changing the characteristics of it. This compound of monomers and particles creates a protective shell on a microscopic level that protects the paper from anything you throw at it...except a shredder of course. Feel free to read more about it on Gizmodo.com.

-Donato

There is a new iPhone case that can stop a .50 caliber bullet.  The case features an inch of solid steel embedded in the back that can withstand the force of a .50 caliber bullet.  This means that it can stop a bullet that is fired from a sniper rifle! The case has to be screwed on the back of your phone using an Allen wrench, while still leaving the front touch screen uncovered.

There are a few disadvantages to having a case that can stop a bullet.  For one, the case makes your iPhone go from weighing .5 pounds to 4.5 pounds.  This creates a bulky object that doesn't easily fit in your pocket.  The phone also needs a separate camera to be attached and leads to a smaller picture that looks like it was taken through a peephole. And of course the cost is extreme.  It costs $650 with free shipping from China and includes a spare lens and a fake bullet that shows just how big a .50 caliber bullet is.

So if your life includes a lot of people shooting at you and you still want to be able to play around with your iPhone than this might be the perfect purchase for you.

-Craig

Talk about going GREEN! Ever wonder what it would be like if you could grow your own furniture?? Probably not...but wouldn't it be awesome?! Well now your dreams have come true. Artist Werner Aisslinger was curious about this idea and thought that he should put it to good use. He built a few models and finally came up with a fully functional prototype that does what it's supposed to. It takes a lot of patience but the end product is quite the conversation piece. The entire kit to make your own furniture contains everything you need (small greenhouse, lighting, dirt-box, water supplies, and framing) to make the garden gnome chair of your dreams. Who needs Ikea when you have good ol' Mother Nature.

Grow Your Own Furniture!!!

-Donato

Iphones can now be connected to binoculars, telescopes and microscopes.  It is a new case developed by Magnifi that allows the iPhone to be hooked up to use the above devices right on the iPhone.  The device is slim enough to fit in your pocket and can then be taken out and used at any time.  The use of the eye attaches to the outside of the phone and is then used.  The camera can fit up to 90% of all microscopes and telescopes on the market.  For any science students or anyone who uses these devices on a regular basis should definitely invest in this product. 

-Craig

'Smart Screens' to replace pay phones in NYC

New York City is looking to replace all pay phones with internet connected touch tablets called "Smart Screens."

The city will start a pilot program next month where it will install 32-inch "smart screens" with broadband Internet connections in 250 old phone booths throughout the city.

The hope is that eventually the city will replace its 12,800 outdoor pay phones with these new tablet-booths. The franchise for the public pay phones in the city is expiring in October 2014. The new touch-screen tablets will be free to access and will generate revenue via local advertising.

People will be able to use the kiosks/tablets to get information on local restaurants, nearby stores, tourist attractions, and traffic updates. The booths will also provide access to the city's 311 complaint and information line. And it will offer safety alerts. All of this will be available in multiple languages.

 Eventually these smart screens with be equip with Skype, the users will be able to check their e-mails, and they will also be a Wi-Fi hot-spot.

For those worried about the unsanitary nature of sharing such screens with millions of people, City24x7, the franchisee that will install and maintain the new technology, says the new touch screens will be even more sanitary than an ATM. The company said the devices will be dust-proof and waterproof and will be able to be cleaned with a jet hose.




-MF

This is the new PAL-V flying car that has been in development since 2004.  It was developed by a Dutch company and a driving prototype was ready in 2009.  Just recently the company has prepared the flying-driving prototype and had its first successful launch recently.  You can view the extremely fascinating footage here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHSaNtAMjs&feature=player_embedded

Now before you get too excited about the possibilities of a flying car, that had been forecast by people hundreds of years ago, there are some things about it that don't allow it to go from driving to flying in an instant.  The car itself can go at top speeds of 112 mph and gets 28 miles per gallon, which is really good for such a concept car.

To go from driving to flying the engine must be brought to a complete stop and then the rotors and tail are extended in a process which takes about 10 minutes.  Then a straight takeoff strip of about 550 feet is needed to get the car into the air.  After that the flying car has a range of about 250 miles.

This could be the future right here because the company is looking for investors to start designing a flying car for commercial use!

-Craig

For all you bikers out there, here's a great little commodity that could improve your everyday bike ride. We live in a very busy world nowadays and when you finally have a moment to yourself, someone calls you. When riding a bike, the user has to be very cautious and pay attention to his surroundings at ALL times. No one wants to pick up a  phone call while riding on a busy street. Bad news waiting to happen. With the new Cardo BK-1, the biker can now attach this gadget to their bike helmet and answer calls, pull up a GPS, control your iPod, and even sync up with other riders and use it as a walkie-talkie with simple voice commands. This thing is designed by the same people who create communication systems for super-bike racers so its legit. One good thing about it is that it doesn't distract the rider because it doesn't actually cover your ears, it hovers above them so you're still able to have an ear on your surroundings. I think this thing is kinda cool for that casual bike ride around the neighborhood.

For further info, Cardo BK-1

-Donato