TIME has compiled a fascinating list of the best inventions made this year. We have covered a couple of them on Apartment Therapy before, and want to share the other relevant advancements with you now. Prepare to be inspired.
The 50 Best Inventions of 2009
TIME
Spiderweb Silk
We first wrote about the Spider Silk Tapestry when it came New York last month. This silk is created using threads harvested from wild spiders, which are then woven into cloth that is uniquely strong and lightweight.
The Bladeless Fan
Our techie friends over at Unplggd wrote a piece called Dyson Air Multiplier: Amplifies Air Without Fan Blades, discussing the technology behind Dyson's new take on the electric fan. This amazing device produces a stream of cool air without the use of blades.
The $10 Million Lightbulb
Philips Electronics has created a lightbulb that produces the same amount of light energy as incandescent, but uses only 10 watts of power in its efforts and lasts for 25,000 hours. This is a vast improvement over an average bulb, which works at 60 watts for only 1,000 hours. The project is in competition for the U.S. Department of Energy's L Prize and stands to earn the company $10 million if victorious.
The Foldable Speaker
OrigAudio has created a portable, foldable speaker system made of recycled paper that costs only $16 per set. This is a huge benefit to travelers, as the device folds up flat as a pancake during transport, but produces big sound when expanded.
The Handyman's X-Ray Vision
Walleye Technologies has developed a small, portable microwave camera that can see through walls, eliminating the need to poke holes in sheetrock to discover what's lurking beneath.
If you're interested in perusing the rest of the list, check it out here at TIME.
(Images: 1. TIME; 2. Davies and Starr for TIME; 3. Davies and Starr for TIME; 4. Davies and Starr for TIME; 5. Walleye via Fast Company)
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Waitaminnit. What about those x-ray spectacles I ordered from the back of my comic book? I thought those could be used for looking through walls, too!
view Mlle Kate's profile
where can i get a walleye camera and what is the cost? i am in the process of a huge demo of a water damaged basement and this sounds like it could be helpful...also for finding hidden treasures in my semieccentric mother's home who recently passed away.
view mkw's profile
muji has been making those foldable cardboard speakers for years
view duckumu's profile
How do those cardboard speakers sound?
view jeffnyc's profile
Philips Electronics lightbulb sounds wonderful. It uses far less power while providing far more light over time.
But what it also does is give us humans an emotional or spiritual or psychological boost. When we use this bulb,
and other simple products that conserve money, power and the ecology of the planet, we know we are taking an active part in working toward a cleaner more life sustainable planet.
I hope this lightbulb is free from toxins and won't harm the environment when it eventually wears out.
view JoannaPop's profile
"How do those cardboard speakers sound?" posted by jeffnyc
flat.
lol.
view megnez's profile