Built by Dutchman Willem Penning after being inspired by the Cubli created by researchers at ETH Zurich, the Balancing Cube is a metal cube that can remain balanced on one of its corners. The cube uses spinning flywheels mounted on three adjoining sides to maintain balance along its X, Y, and Z axes. It’s like a gyroscope toy, but much more complicated than just pulling a string. Since previous versions of a self-balancing cube were closed-source, Willem had to reverse engineer the entire build from scratch. And, being the kind-hearted tinkerer that he is, he’s shared his ..read more

Technology has come a long way since the 1980s. It’s hard to imagine life without some of the gadgets that make our lives so much easier. Let’s walk down memory lane as we look at some of the iconic gadgets of the 80s and 90s. 1. The Boombox Image Credit: Shutterstock. A party in the 80s and 90s was only a real party if you had a boombox. There was no such thing as a Bluetooth-enabled smart speaker. No, we had a 50-pound box of electricity that could blast music off a cassette tape to get the dance floor hopping. The DJ had to have that perfect mix tape to make sure the party didn’t stop in be ..read more

Because trying to count to 180 myself requires patience I don’t have, KARAKURI constructed a 3D printed 3-minute Cup Noodles timer that is powered by the weight of the meal, slowly lowering the cup to the table’s surface over the course of three minutes. That’s ingenious. Me? I usually lose track of counting after a minute and eat my noodles extra al dente. The video includes the original 3D computer design from which it was made, as well as all the 3D printed pieces being carefully assembled. Careful assembly – that’s important, especially when you’re dealing with such small, fragile pieces ..read more

Constructed by mad inventor (and almost Mythbuster) Allen Pan, this mosquito killer relies on lasers to incinerate mosquitos in its path. It uses two powerful 10-watt lasers reflected off multiple mirrors to create a skeeter-burning matrix. And it works, too. As a matter of fact, the lasers are so powerful they burned through the original mirrors Allen used, and he had to replace them. That’s when you know you’re on the right path. Is it the most efficient mosquito killer? Of course not, but it is the one that most resembles something the Ghostbusters would carry, so there’s that. Plus, how c ..read more

Designed with a handle for easy gripping, this kitchen cleaver iPhone case is perfect for letting people know you’re not to be approached while on a call. For sale on Amazon (affiliate link), the case is available for 15 different iPhone models, with either a black or silver blade finish. I’m going to get the silver finish for extra realism. Plus, maybe add a little blood splatter. Of course, the knife isn’t really a knife; it’s just plastic, so you don’t have to worry about losing a toe in the event you drop a call. That’s a relief because I’m rarely not dropping my phone. Or throwing it in ..read more

Do you like to go camping, overlanding, or nighttime tailgating? Have I got the light for you! The guys from STKR Concepts are now making the FLi Over-Lander, an outdoor light that can telescope nearly 10 feet in the air, casting bright illumination across your entire campsite. I got my hands on a demo unit and am impressed with its ease of use and capabilities. If you’ve used a tripod, you know how to set up the STKR FLi Over-Lander light. Just unscrew its locking aluminum tripod mount, open its legs, tighten the screw, and extend its telescoping poles to the desired height. When not in use ..read more

Killer Klowns From Outerspace: it’s a cult classic. A cult classic I’ve never seen because it looks too scary. Better safe than nightmares; that’s one of my mottos. Well, now Spirit Halloween (coming soon to a former Bed Bath & Beyond location near you) is selling this Popcorn Gun replica from the movie. In the film, the gun shoots a shockwave of popcorn at enemies. This one doesn’t do that, but it does have popcorn that pops around in the hopper when you turn the crank, as well as light effects and sounds from the movie. It costs $100. For reference, my Halloween costumes for the last fo ..read more

Designed for a more immersive reading experience, the Sol Reader is an eReader in the form of a pair of sunglasses – placing tiny screens right in front of your eyeballs. Sol describes them as “noise-canceling for your eyes,” so don’t expect to be able to read and see anything else going on around you. Me? I like to be aware of my surroundings at all times. Even sleeping, which is why I sleep with both eyes open. My wife hates it. The $350 Sol Reader is available in four different colors, weighs just 3.9 ounces, and features an e-ink screen for each eyeball, illuminated by side-mounted warm w ..read more

Because some dogs can’t bear the sound of thunder or fireworks (they don’t seem to mind fingernails on a chalkboard, though), Pawnix has created a line of noise-canceling headsets for canines. Available in five different sizes and four colors, the headsets attach to a dog’s collar via Velcro to reduce noise by up to 30 decibels. That’s cool; it’s not like my dogs listen to me anyways. In addition to providing the comfort of a hug around the head and the headset’s natural sound-dampening, the device can also be paired with a smartphone to play calming sounds for your dog. What the best calming ..read more

The StockCam is a camera rig modeled after a rifle stock, so the action of shooting photos is not unlike shooting a rifle. Does that mean if you’re a good shot with a rifle, you’ll also make a good photographer? I doubt it, but at least you’ll be aiming in the right direction. The StockCam features a gun trigger (operated via remote cable plugin) to activate a camera’s shutter, as well as a “safety” to prevent shooting when you don’t mean to, which can be switched between locked, focus (photo shooting), and fast (video shooting). That’s a nice touch. I mean, if you’re going to make a rifle st ..read more