The world's smallest 3D printing pen will let users draw complex designs in mid-air. Designed to be comfortable to hold and easy to use, the pen will be powered by a USB port and take only a moment to heat up. The plastic filament used to create the 3D object will be inserted into the pen's upper end, where it will move through a special mechanism to reach the hot-end nozzle. The nozzle will both melt the filament and cool it down, allowing the user to draw complicated, 3D...

The pocket molecular sensor can identify the chemical makeup of an item in two seconds - from the nutritional content of food to whether or not a plant needs water. The spectrometer gathers information about an item's chemical makeup in the same way as the larger, professional models: by shining near-infrared light on the object and then analyzing the light that is reflected off the excited molecules. The data is sent via an iOS or Android app to the cloud, where advanced...

The Rain house will be made of a special bio-concrete that will allow it to filter rain water. The concrete will be both PH neutral and bio-compatible with water, which will enable it produce sun-distilled water naturally. Rain water is believed to be the purest source of freshwater, and bio-concrete technology could democratize fresh water supplies by providing access to affordable clean water for small and big scale users, from families to big companies, leaving the...

The idea is to have a machine able to detect a range of diseases and health problems, including a hangover, from the user's breath. After the user blows into the device using the attached hose, an infrared laser within the machine will irradiate the breath. This will allow trace elements to be detected and identified.

Sutures and stitches may one day be replaced by a new nanoparticle-based surgical adhesive solution able to repair soft-tissue organs and tissues. The adhesive solution, which can contain either silica or iron oxide nanoparticles, will be applied to both sides of the incision. The edges of the incision will then be pushed together, prompting the nanoparticles to bond with both the tissue's molecular makeup and each other. The entire process will take only seconds, and the...

A new system will use an electronic baggage sticker and a geolocating device to allow users to keep track of their luggage's whereabouts while also saving time at the airport. The eTag and eTrack will be used separately or together. The eTag will be designed to replace the typical airline baggage sticker with an electronic sticker that will allow the user to load the flight information at home, before the trip begins. The tag will sync with a smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing...

Designed with freelance and other independent workers in mind, the desktop assistant will help the user develop more efficient work habits. Featuring an inviting squishy top and a small LCD screen, the device concept will use gamification to help individuals manage their time. By accessing the user's online organization systems, such as apps and calendars, the device will create a to do list based on the user's own input. Throughout the day, it will display messages on its screen:...

The body dryer will be designed to replace germy and environmentally unfriendly bathroom towels with a more environmentally sound solution--compressed ionized air. The body dryer will be equipped with angled vents that will be adjusted according to the needs, or size, of the user. The arrangement of the vents will send a cylindrical tunnel of compressed air up from the footplate to dry the individual in about 30 seconds, with no towel required. The air temperature will be adjusted...

The idea is to investigate ways to make objects 'invisible' to earthquakes by applying some of the same principles involved in the light-bending cloaking technique used to render objects invisible. The cloaking technique works by bending light of specific frequencies around the object meant to be hidden. I propose the idea of drilling a precisely tuned system of boreholes around an earthquake-prone city (or vital building like a power plant or hospital). In theory, the boreholes...

Cleanliness is important in clinical environments, and the clips of hair from pre-op procedures can often be difficult to contain and remove. The new device will eliminate this danger with its system, which will feature a small vacuum that will attach to the company's surgical clippers and suctions up the hair as it is shaved off. The device will remove an average of 98.5 percent of hair and other airborne contaminants at the source, which will also reduce the need for a secondary...