When it comes to smuggling contraband, criminals have developed some very creative ways over the years. This method, in particular, is far more outlandish than a stealth submarine or a pack mule: a makeshift bazooka consisting of a tubular mechanism and a compressor, along with 203 marijuana packages weighing a total of 1,800 pounds, has…

In other robotic and A.I. advancement news, robots aren’t just becoming all-terrain, hazard-traversing back-flipping machines; now they can play musical instruments just about as good as mathematically-precise humans, too. Nigel Stanford, an ambient dance/ electronic musician, has repurposed a number of robotic arms for his newest album, Automatica. Designed and manufactured by KUKA, the robotic…

Electricity does way more than light up your home and toast your Pop Tarts; it’s raw power which, when improperly used, can lead to some extremely dangerous—and highly entertaining—science experiments. The guys at Photonicinduction know this all too well. Their YouTube channel is filled with videos of overpowered transformers being used on everyday objects. In…

It was only a matter of time before robots got a 21st century upgrade. No longer do they fumble around on quadrupedal legs or struggle with more dexterous tasks. Now, these robots can grab objects, traverse uneven terrain on two legs, and now, even leap up to dangerously tall heights. We all knew this was…

4-Mation Is A Series of 3D Modular Zoetropes With Swappable Animations Before the introduction of film and movies, pre-animation devices like zoetropes presented a glimpse into the future of moving images. Using a series of paintings or drawings in different phases of animation, a person could paint the illusion of an object (or objects) in…

Just in time for Autodesk University this week in Las Vegas, Lenovo announced some welcome new additions to their ThinkStation and ThinkPad product line. In particular, an exciting new mobile workstation offering for 3D professionals on-the-go. The ThinkStation P520 and P250c are desktops for designers, architects, and 3D professionals, while the ThinkPad P52s is the…

Who could ever dislike Mario? The virtual plumber has been capturing the hearts of gamers worldwide since his first appearance in the 1981 classic, Donkey Kong, and has become synonymous with the video game industry as a whole. To celebrate the mustachioed mascot’s newest game on the Nintendo Switch, YouTube user TheDominoKing spent the last…

Product design whiz Eric Strebel is at it again – this time with his personal guide on how to create a small batch of 200 vacuum-formed panels for display at a car show. Eric starts the same way he begins all his designs: in the ideation phase. Even though panels aren’t the most complex products,…

Don’t believe what other people tell you – rocking chairs are NOT just for old people! In fact, they’re one of the comfiest pieces of furniture out there. Even so, a rocking chair isn’t the most portable seat. Since most of them rely on rockers or springs to operate, they can’t really be disassembled and…

No matter what anyone says, machines will never fully replace humans in the food chain. Having a human supervisor on hand beats out a cold, robotic heart any day. The guys at Sarcos Robotics aren’t trying to make manual labor obsolete. In fact, their newest creation requires a human helping hand. The Guardian GT is…

As you read this, you’re probably at your desk, killing time while waiting for the workday to end. But do you know just for how long you’ve been sitting down? How about your daily water intake for the day—or meals you’ve eaten? One of the more obscure applications of A.I., the SmartDesk 3 ISN’T a…

Thanks to killer set design in movies and television, almost everyone wants their own secret room. And who wouldn’t? Having your own private sanctum sounds like a blast: peace and quiet, the freedom to do what you want, plus the rooms are usually sealed off in the coolest way possible — waterfalls, anybody? Creative Home Engineering…

William Whiteley & Sons, a well-known scissor company in England, sure knows their stuff when it comes to cutting instruments. They’ve been around for 257 years; combining traditional handcrafting with current world technologies to make scissors capable of cutting through Kevlar (just take a look at their manufacturing process in the video below). Different scissors…

We talked in passing about how Google Blocks can be used in conjunction with other VR apps like Tilt Brush; now the company is taking things a little bit further in 3D-land. Poly, Google’s new dedicated VR/AR sharing platform, lets users download and upload designs for sharing within the community. It replaces Blocks’ previous online…

The WESN titanium knife (West East North South) from designer Billy Chester looks like a handy little tool for camping trips and knife-related activities. While the handle of the knife is made from grade 5 titanium, the blade itself is composed of AUS8 heat-treated steel. What distinguishes this knife from other bladed weapons is how…

Let’s be honest: commuting sucks. When you aren’t hurrying to find a cab or Uber, you’re spending an uncomfortable journey in the back of a stranger’s car with sticky floors. Student Jack Davies was so fed up with his everyday commute that he decided to find an alternative solution. The result is the Fusion E-Board…

Not everyone has buckets of money to burn on industrial-grade construction supplies. Not surprisingly, some of the most clever DIYers have figured out ways of getting the same results using simple household supplies. Dejan Kirevski is a YouTube creator who makes various DIY projects on his Mr. DK DIY channel. He has made candle timers,…

Society has become more accepting of four-legged pets when it comes to where they are allowed to go. A decade ago, you might catch flack for bringing your dog to the public park. But these days, you’ll see dogs and cats in stores or malls wearing miniature costumes while lounging it up with high society.…

We recently featured a couple of LEGO Sony PlayStations smaller than your finger, but those things can’t really play video games. These miniature arcade machines, however, can play retro games and don’t require skipping school and a pocket full of quarters to operate. RepliCade is a series of miniature arcade machines designed to play classic video…

Contrary to popular belief, not all chairs are made for the same purpose. There are Monobloc chairs made for public events, rolling chairs designed with the sole purpose of spinning around while sitting in them, and chairs with arms so comfy you never sit in them quite properly. The Hybrid Chair serves two of those multiple…

While it can be daunting to create LEGO models consisting of an absurd amount of blocks, you might consider the sense of accomplishment when building something with the least amount of blocks possible. Case in point: these tiny LEGO PlayStations. Twitter user SUU2100 has turned all four of Sony’s video game consoles into bite-sized LEGO models.…

Everyone loves free stuff. Why else do you think those free samples in grocery stores run out so fast? It’s a business model as old as time itself: if something’s free, chances are consumers will flock to it like seagulls to a hotdog. This is one of the reasons Greg Zaal, founder of HDRI Haven,…

Despite its namesake, this has to be one of the smallest CNC machines you will ever lay your eyes on. The Goliath CNC, unlike most other CNCs, isn’t fastened to the floor or destined for a dedicated space. Quite the opposite in fact. The Goliath CNC is capable of carving, milling, and engraving difference materials,…

Last year, we brought to your attention Eduard Locota’s DelMare table – an unconventional table that looks like a section of seafloor extracted from a azure blue coastline. With a low center of gravity, different sizes, and a €7,000 price tag (roughly $8,214), you can bet you get your money’s worth for a mesmerizing piece…

It’s more engine than motorcycle. Yep, you read the headline correctly; this baby runs on a Subaru WRX engine. When New Zealand toolmaker Marcel van Hooijdonk received a challenge from his Aussie friend to build a motorcycle around a car engine, he couldn’t say no.  You see, this isn’t the first Subaru WRX motorcycle. (Of…

Origami, which comes from the Japanese words ori meaning “folding” and kami meaning “paper”, is a pretty niche field which requires dedication, delicate hands, and a lot of free time. While most of us can make a paper plane or boat, the more obscure origami designs require numerous steps and intricate folds to create. This…

Based on the title, you may be wondering why antiquarian horologist Brittany Cox doesn’t look centuries old. It’s because she isn’t. While her age has nothing to do with her profession, her job is ancient as it gets. Brittany is one of the few people in America with a masters in horological conservation. This means…

Studio Ghibli could be considered the Japanese equivalent of Walt Disney Pictures. If you haven’t watched at least one of their heartfelt children’s films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, or Spirited Away, please stop reading this and do that instead (you’ll thank me later). The movies have as much impact on Japanese…

It seems no matter how small the problem, there is someone willing to provide a slick design solution. This time around, the problem is cargo management. Not the heavy duty kind of cargo you need for construction; I’m talking about conundrum and troubles of placing things like groceries in your trunk. Stayhold, an Irish company…

Who needs guns that shoot bullets when you can fire a ball of plasma? The ‘plasma popper’ is a slice of future created by Mr. Al Stahler. It’s an ingenious use of transparent plastic tubing and an ignited ball of methylacetylene-propadiene propane (MAPP gas). It isn’t a kid’s toy, but it sure does look pretty…

We seem to be talking a lot about pencils lately. From a pencil holder/extender to a pencil/stylus, we do love to cover our notebooks in wood shavings and lead. But let’s give a tactical pen some love this time around. The GP 1945 bolt-action tactical pen isn’t your normal click pen. In fact it’s, quite surprisingly,…

Too many of us are too busy to be bothered by life’s trivialities. When the world is moving at a breakneck speed, you don’t really have time to worry about things like paying bills, washing yourself or finding your keys (but seriously, you should take care of those bills). They gobble up those precious minutes…

Recently, we featured Capsule Skateboards, makers of a 100% polymer skateboard which can stand an unusual amount of punishment and still do everything just as well (if not better) than a traditional maple board. The project on Indiegogo didn’t quite meets their goal but the company has shared some information on how this almost unbreakable…

In the 21st century, it’s never enough when an object only has one function. Smart phones need to be computers. Pencils need to be sharpeners. And wallets? When they’re not doubling as a tactical tool why not as a notebooks? The P01 Pioneer Bifold Wallet & Pen was made with the purpose of keeping your…

Next to duct tape, WD-40 is the second best solution people look to when something isn’t working properly. Squeaky door? Spray some WD-40 to make it sound as quiet as a husband who knows he’s in trouble. Stuck zipper? WD-40 will loosen it faster than a person loosens their pants after a trip to the…

Creating a 3D model in VR isn’t as revolutionary as it once was. If the presence of Quill and Medium on the Oculus Rift weren’t enough, Google’s own Gravity Sketch, Tilt Brush, and Blocks programs add to the ever-increasing library of software which wants to make the craft more accessible. Now we have MasterpieceVR, another…

Even if their initial purpose is to replace the consumable pencil (or extend the life of a pencil), you can spend a lot of money on a mechanical pencil. Especially a plastic version that, once the lead is finished or the eraser is turned into a useless nub, ends up in the trash to make…

For those afflicted with OCD (did you see this desk organizer?) or if you just can’t take a break from designing things, you may find this handy, little ruler interesting. https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/3040797/video-813018-h264_base.mp4 Created by New England-based company Onehundred, the Qbit is a modern interpretation of the Cubit ruler – a portable measuring tool our ancestors used…

Remember the Gundam-sized hole in Japan’s heart which was left by the dismantling of the country’s titular giant robot last March? Well, grieve no more! The Unicorn Gundam, whose construction we covered previously, was finished last weekend and stands proudly where its little brother once stood. Though it may not be as colorful as its…

To bring designers and engineers across industries together, LEDAS’ research division has announced they are working on a platform which acts as a basis for developing cloud CAD/PLM and AEC/BIM applications. The LEDAS Cloud Platform (or the LCP, as they like to call it) is the result of fusing engineering functions such as authoring 3D…

Even with the numerous advantages of mechanical pencils, there are still those who love the old school feel of wooden pencils. And Andrew Pyza’s love for traditional pencils spurred him to create Pencil+, a pencil holder which extends the life of your pencil while providing a built-in sharpener. The origin story of the Pencil+ is…

For sneakerheads who would happily sell their offspring for a chance at exclusively designed shoes, listen up: You won’t have to! Nike recently opened its Nike Makers’ Experience at the Nike By You Studio at 45 Grand in New York which will allows users to create their own one-of-a-kind pair of shoes. If you thought…

All this talk of innovations that haven’t come out yet and we end up forgetting the ones we already have. For instance, have you ever stopped to wonder about how Dippin’ Dots ice cream got its unique beaded shape? You know, those tiny clusters of circular ice cream which could be a potential hazard if…

When Google Glass was released to the public in 2014, a lot of controversy ensued over privacy and safety concerns. When a piece of hardware obstructs your view with the data of strangers you share a sidewalk with, it isn’t hard to see how the device can feel a bit creepy to passersby. Thankfully, the…

Ever since man first learned to slice something with a blade, there have been countless designs and re-designs of the  traditional every day carry (EDC) knife. There are knives which can be customized to fit your design needs, knives that stick to the fridge, those the size of a man’s arm (and cut one off, at…

Though skateboarders have been blessed with a variety of upgrades to the traditional skateboard (such as a smart electric skateboard with a built-in A.I. and a one-wheeled, all-terrain variant), traditional boards are built of maple plys that’ll snap as soon as you land on it wrong. They just don’t last long before chipping or breaking…

Yeah, they did it. Lenovo has announced two new upgrades to its line of ThinkStation ‘pewters bound to make your eye muscles tighten and twitch. The ThinkStation P720 and the P920 are two new dual processor systems designed for more taxing operations than opening 50 tabs of Martha Stewart recipes in Google Chrome. (All images…

If you’re tired of conventional magnets doing little more than sticking like parasites to your refrigerator, you might want to consider making your own. That’s what YouTube creator BrainfooTV did. After years of decorating his refrigerator with half-broken alphabet letters, he decided to create something a bit more practical for the kitchen. This mini meat…

As long as they can jam more power into a PC, we’ll keep opening the checkbooks for something faster, better, MORE POWERFUL. Faster rendering speeds, better processing power – all of these factors help productivity for us who crank the CAD all day. Whether you’re multi-tasking whilst building a massive assembly or want to max…

Ever since I was a teenager, I always wanted to graduate my art style from stick figures to something a bit more refined. Not everyone has an instinct for drawing, but quite a few would love to draw better and many of us desire to sketch like a pro. ShadowDraw, a creative app for the upcoming Apple…