Smits revealed that the prototype’s main purpose is to get people thinking. “I’m not planning on turning all the Coke in the world back into water; it’s more to let people think about how we humans create the world around us and ask questions.” Source: Dezeen
Google software engineer Tom Stanis’ February 2013 bicycle accident near Stanford University left him with a concussion, a neck brace and no recollection of the event. But it also resulted in an unrelated medical discovery that shifted the course of his career. A CT scan after the accident revealed spine fractures and a kidney mass that turned out to be cancer.
With the cancer removed, and an excellent prognosis, Stanis left his post on the Google Wallet mobile payment team to join Google X, the company’s clandestine research arm. Specifically, he’s now a part of a Life Sciences group developing nanoparticles to patrol the human body to detect evidence of diseases like cancer in their early, most-treatable stages. In fact, Stanis’ story was instrumental in securing funding for the endeavor.
“I feel like the work I do is leading to better solutions to these problems. I feel a direct personal connection to this,” he said. Source: Wall Street Journal
Motorcyclists and subcompact-car drivers have likely sat alone at many red lights, wondering if sensors will ever detect their ride and turn the light green. Bicyclists’ plight is worse still, as sensors often can’t pick up bikes at all. That’s why cyclist Nat Collins designed the Veloloop, a bicycle attachment that uses battery power to trigger sensors. An LED on the device informs the user when it’s searching for, and locked on, the sensor. Beta testers report shaving minutes off their commutes. Source: CityLab