The idea is to create a microturbine able to harness the rainwater runoff from roofs to generate electricity. The system will feature a microturbine measuring about 2 inches wide by 10 inches high designed to be placed in half-inch pipe. As the turbine is spun by the flowing water from rooftop gutters, it will generate enough energy to charge 12-volt batteries that can be used to power small household devices. As an added benefit, the water flowing through the turbine will...

The smartphone/adhesive tag system is the next in a growing list of devices dedicated to helping forgetful humans keep track of their stuff. The system will contain a circuit board, replaceable battery, buzzer and LED light. The tags will be stuck to items that are frequently lost, such as car keys or the TV remote, and a custom app will allow the tags to be assigned to specific objects. When the object is lost, accessing the app on the smartphone will display how far away the...

There is a way to create electricity from carbon dioxide while also preventing the gas from entering the atmosphere. The technique will involve a system of membrane and water. Tanks will be filled with water, with each one sandwiched between a pair of membranes--one that will allow the passage of positive ions and one that will allow negative ions to flow through. An electrode will be positioned beyond the membranes, and when the carbon dioxide is moved through the water it will...

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...

Conductive cables able to stretch up to eight times their original length could make electrical outlets more accessible--and let you share your headphones with your friend seated three rows back. The idea is to develop the wire by filling a thin tube made of an extremely elastic polymer with a liquid metal alloy. Made of gallium and indium, the alloy is a good conductor of electricity, and keeping the materials separate rather than embedding the metals directly into the elastic...

Air travel may soon be a bit less traumatic with the development of laser based system able to detect clear-air turbulence. Not only can clear-air turbulence occur when no clouds are visible, studies indicate that the phenomenon may become even more common due to climate change. To help decrease the dangers of a plane entering an area of clear-air turbulence, I suggest using a laser-based measuring device to detect it. The device will emit short-wave ultraviolet radiation in 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...

Filling the gap between LEDs and CFL is a liquid-cooled light bulb with a pleasant, cozy glow. The bulb is filled with non-toxic liquid silicon, which moves throughout the bulb to release the heat of the 10 internal LEDs. A volume compensation device ensures the bulb won't explode if it breaks, and it is compatible with most dimmers. Besides emitting a comfortable light, bulbs are also more efficient and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

The newest in a flurry of integrated bike locks, this one may be the fastest and easiest to use. The lock is built into the kickstand and features a built-in combination lock. When the biker reaches their destination they simply push down on the device, which slips through the rear tire to function both as a kickstand and an obstacle to keep the bike from being ridden away. Although the lock does not prevent anyone from picking up the bike and carrying it away, it does help to...

A new CO2 scrubbing filter inspired by bird lungs could be applied to both power plants and automobiles. The scrubber will be based on the tiny tubes inside the lungs of birds, called parabronchii. The tubes, with their large surface area, are very efficient at filtering oxygen from the air--a necessary adaptation since birds fly often fly at altitudes where there is very little oxygen. Using the lungs as a model, it will be possible to design filters made of different-sized...