The new bike lock will help discourage bike theft by disengaging the bike's steering system, making it a bit harder for thieves to 'snip, grab and ride.' The system will be integrated into the bike's stem, where it will be locked or locked by a key. The system will be securely fastened for riding, but a simple turn of a key will disconnect the handlebar stem from the fork--making it impossible for anyone to steer the bike. In addition to deterring thieves, the handlebar...

The idea is to create a solar backpack which will store energy for later use. The backpack will be able to store 30 minutes of power with an hour of sun exposure, and the onboard battery will be plugged into a standard outlet and recharged The backpack will also have two ports, one supplying 16v or 19v while the other will run 5v to 12v, suitable for smaller devices.

A retinal implant that translates camera images into pulses the brain can understand could offer new treatments for vision loss. The system features a set of tiny cameras mounted to a pair of glasses. The camera's digital information is sent along a wire to a micro-fabricated thin film implanted in the back of the patient's eye, where the electrical signals stimulate the retinal nerves. The system is sealed well enough to prevent water vapor from entering the device, which...

The headset will be designed to give first responders the ability to share and access patient data more easily, saving time and improving patient care. The head-worn device will feature a camera and microphone. The applications will be voice controlled, so the responder can look up patient records and enter new patient data by voice alone, and the camera will provide direct video communication between the responder and medical staff, allowing the experts to assess the situation and...

Featuring a wide-mouth funnel design, a new wind turbine could lower the cost of wind power to a price that is competitive with natural gas. The new design will capture the wind with its wide-mouthed funnels, directing the wind though narrow passages that will naturally speed up its flow. The accelerated wind will then be sent to a ground-level turbine, which will make maintenance both easier and safer while also reducing noise and vibration. The new technology will generate...

A tiny, microfluidic water sensor will not only be much more sensitive than current options, it will also be mass-produced for just five dollars each. The chip will be inserted into the soil or stem of a plant. It will contain a tiny cavity filled with water, and it will exchange that moisture with the moisture in its environment through a nanoporous membrane. As the moisture flows from one side to the other, the chip will measure any changes in pressure that will result from water...

The portable wind turbine puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand, packing a 15W generator into its small, lightweight frame. The turbine folds into an impressively portable 12-inch cylinder for transport or storage, and can be easily set up once on location. Its three, 11-inch aluminum legs can be extended and arranged to create a tripod base or laid flat to form a pedestal, allowing the turbine to harness the wind and charge its 15,000 mAh battery. Smartphones and...