weird inventions

We’ve all whacked a vending machine a time or two to get an errant bag of M&Ms to drop into our greedy little hands but how about a beer vending machine that literally requires you to tackle it before it gives up the goods?

Scientists working at Boston’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with the funding help of hometown hero and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, are working on a special, almost magical gel that replicates the activity of a human vocal cord. It will be able to help the damaged voices of singers and, more importantly, cancer patients! The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey is also partly funding the endeavo

Ever thought about climbing a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ while searching for highly placed objects in your home? Finally, now is your chance. Inspired by Led Zeppelin‘s iconic logo, a student at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design has designed an innovative new ladder with jagged contours.

‘Back To The Future’ fans, rejoice! Not only has 2011 been the year of the Nike Air Mag, but thanks to a group of intrepid scientists, hoverboards may no longer be a crazy pipe dream.

Usually when we hear the words “robot exoskeleton,” we think of science fiction. But for Amanda Boxtel, a woman who was paralyzed from the waist down in a skiing accident 20 years ago, an amazing powered exoskeleton has given her newfound mobility.

What’s more comforting than a pancake-shaped pillow? A stack of pancakes, when done right, is soft, plump and fluffy. So of course it would make sense to transform the breakfast staple into a pile of comfy pillows. The relaxing flapjack stack even comes with two butter pillows to top off your breakfast-themed dreams. A pa ...

Ah, New York City. The sights and smells are like nowhere on earth. Where else can you see the Statue of Liberty and take in the aroma of hot dogs? Or fish? Or, um, sewers? Showcasing the Big Apple in all its olfactory glory is the goal of a new scratch-and-sniff book called ‘New York, Phew York,’ illustrated by artist Tim Probert and inspired by author Amber Jones’ experiences in the city. Read

We all know, of course, that the best part about eating Oreos is twisting them open and dipping them in milk. So why not take it to the next level to better flavor your milk with all that Oreo goodness?

A Russian architectural firm has developed a climate-controlled sleeping capsule the size of a “small dumpster” that has three self cleaning beds, wi-fi connections and room for luggage storage.

Would you drive a car made out of paper? Brooklyn artist Jonathan Brand has combined his artistic talent with his love of cars to build a car entirely out of folded paper right down to the spark plugs.

Social networking site TalkO’Clock is now offering up a service that allows strangers to provide wake-up calls for other strangers.

Like the robot maid, the flying car is part of our 'Jetsons'-promised future that has yet to materialize. But that could change soon. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted the Transition Roadable Aircraft a series of special exemptions, effectively making the plane-car hybrid street-legal.