I've just found out that there was a microbial fuel cell based charger developed. It can allow cell phones to draw their power from the dirt. The device uses a conductive surface that is able to harness the free electrons that are created by soil microbes during their metabolic process. Plans are to distribute the charging device in Sub-Saharan Africa, where many people have cell phones but lack power in their homes to charge them.

I wish there was a new portable technology that could extract hydrogen to produce electricity while also converting non-potable water into drinking water. The technology would utilize a new aluminum alloy that, when immersed in water, would split the water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. The hydrogen could fuel power cells, and drinking water could be harvested from the steam. The method would be ideal for remote areas, needing only the small reaction vessel and the fuel cell...

Why not replace ordinary shipping containers with collapsible ones? Collapsible containers can be folded when empty, saving space as well as the fuel required to ship the empty boxes. The containers can be folded vertically, reducing their width down to 1/5 of the original dimensions. Being able to reduce the size of the empty containers will drastically cut down on the amount of backhaul ocean voyages each year, which will reduce emissions.

The idea is to develop a cloth that can block toxic fumes by trapping the molecules inside the fibers of the material. The cloth will consist of cellulose fibers and metal-organic framework molecules, which will form pores able to trap and contain molecules of gas. The fabrics could be tailored to trap different sizes of molecules, blocking different types of gasses.

My idea is to use the same clay ingredient as in bricks to create a packaging that can help foods stay fresh longer. The new film will be made up of 70% montmorillonite clay, with a structure similar to conventional bricks and mortar. Conventional packaging could be sprayed with or dipped in the film, creating a layer less than 100 nanometers thick. This extremely fine layer will be 100 times more resistant to penetration by oxygen than the current silicon oxide films.

Why not create piezoelectric artificial trees able to collect rainwater and generate electricity? The tree will be able to use water from rainfall as well as the natural water table as irrigation; wind energy will provide power for the LED lights.

The idea is to create more realistic prosthetics by using fiber optics to connect nerves to the artificial limbs. Fiber optics will be used to send data to the brain. They are proved to be more efficient than contemporary electrodes: 1. Glass or polymer fiber optics are more flexible than the electrical designs in use now; 2. They are able to transmit more signals at once.

It seems to be a great idea to create a harness which will allow dogs to be guided remotely and controlled while out of sight. The harness will come with GPS, sensors, and wireless modem allowing handlers to keep track of the dog while issuing commands from a distance. The system will relay the commands to the dog in the form of vibrations or tones that the dog has been trained to recognize.

My idea is to create smart glasses. The eyeglasses will automatically adapt the wearer's head position, adjusting their focus as needed. There will be an LCD-like layer in the glass that can change structure when excited by an electrical current, adjusting the focus. The frames will have a built in accelerometer that can detect movement, such as lowering the head to read. What is more, the glasses are supposed to have both manual and automatic modes.

Below are the tips which helped me greately to stop smoking: * Inform someone that you're going to quit smoking. By telling people, you are not only making the commitment to yourself, but to others as well. After that, make sure the people you hang around most often are aware of your plan. You'll be surprised how supportive people are, even if they themselves are smokers. * Define a quit date. I recommend giving yourself somewhere in the vicinity of two to four weeks. This...