The next time you open the newspaper or surf the Internet, you might want to seek out the latest inventions and news to hit the public regarding the amazing world of technology. It is through a wealth of inventions that the products we use and rely on today have changed and morphed into something quite astonishing. When these items are available for the public to use, as they hit the shelves, they may quickly disappear simply because of our curiosity. Below you will learn of a few new inventions that may soon come to a store near you.
The New Wave of Sunglasses
How smart are your sunglasses? Today, the latest in sunglass technology has created a "smart" pair of sunglasses that possess the ability to change into any color you desire (on demand). With the simple turn of a minute electronic knob positioned on the frames, a rainbow of colors is easily at your disposal. According to a chemical engineer at the University of Washington at Seattle, the lenses are the first of its kind to become developed, which could virtually change the face of fashion in the near future. It may also cause a serious blow to sunglass manufacturers who make their money producing an array of colors in their product line.
The lenses are fashioned from a type of electrochromic polymer, which is a material that has the capacity to change the levels of darkness and color when introduced to a specific kind of electric current. To transform into the next color, a pair of these sunglasses only need power to work. The prototype for such a pair of sunglasses appears less than a fashion statement. Currently, a prototype measures the same size as a pair of lab goggles. A dial attached to the frame helps adjust the color. As you turn the dial, a very small watch battery sends power throughout the google, as a desired color is selected. From a single watch battery, thousands of color changes are made possible. Researchers have already showcased their at the American Chemical Society annual meeting for others to ooo and ah.
During a presentation, the glasses proved that with a quick flip of a switch, transparency is changed into a shade of blue. In between, an array of other colors exists, which do not require a high amount of energy. Next, a multicolored device is in the works, although no working prototype of this sort has been created. While more testing is needed, the sunglasses might not see the light of the consumer market until at least another two or three years.
New, Sweet Batteries?
The next wave of batteries may present a rather sweet deal, meaning a longer lasting model may run on one of the tastiest ingredients known. Also in the running, tree sap or flattened soda may also be used. Scientists are pondering the future of these new batteries that might be able to produce three to four times more shelf life than the models used for cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic products. The lithium ion battery may soon see their use become less and less production.
Plus, batteries made from sugar are biodegradable, which makes them quite appealing for environmental-friendly proponents. By tweaking the lines between biology and chemistry, scientists believe that a better battery means the world will stay all the more cleaner. Since sugar is an energy source that all living things utilize, researchers decided to make use of the enzymes that come from nature. They learned how to strip the charges from sugar and use them to produce electricity in the cells associated with fuel. When combined with air, these particular byproducts made are safe for disposal.
Before we get to test out these babies, further research is needed to see if the batteries will be able to withstand high temperatures, as well as showcase a long battery life.
