Attention Star Trek fans! Behold the Spock & Captin Kirk Salt & Pepper Shakers from the NeatoShop.
With the Spock & Captain Kirk Salt & Pepper Shakers you can boldly season where no food has been seasoned before. Food alert, all hands to battle stations! Prepare to salt and pepper!
[Spock & Captain Kirk – Star Trek Salt & Pepper Shakers – $12.95 @ The Neatoshop]
I’ve battled with occasional bouts of sleeplessness for years; it’s now to the point where, when sleep evades me, I’ve given up on sleep aids and bedtimes and such. I just go to sleep when I think I can sleep, and that’s that. But a recent article in the LA Times tells me I’m doing it wrong, just like most people who suffer from insomnia. Instead of reaching for the Unisom or staring at the ceiling, we should be a little more cool about things.
A study by Dr. Eric Nofzinger and Dr. Daniel Buysse of the Sleep Neuroimaging Research Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that wearing a cap outfitted with a liquid cooling system (probably not unlike the kind you might find in a PC) lets people with insomnia fall asleep faster and stay asleep most of the night. Results were comparable to a control group of people without insomnia, with non-sleepers falling to sleep within 13 minutes and staying asleep for 89% of their time in bed, versus the control group’s 16-minute average time for falling asleep and remaining so for 89% of the time.
According to Nofzinger and Buysse, the cooling cap is effective because it slows metabolism in the frontal cortex–an area of the brain that shows increased metabolism in insomniacs. Nofzinger is optimistic about the results (and frankly, so am I); he says frontal cerebral thermal transfer “has far-reaching implications for how insomnia can be managed in the future,” and that’s pretty cool.
Redditor Punqington had this amazing Millennium Falcon cake made for his wedding. The cake was created by The Butter End Cakery in Santa Monica, CA.
[Via Reddit]
You may already have seen this since the video is several days old, but here’s a pretty cool viral for Ubisoft’s upcoming game Rocksmith. Enjoy!
Introducing the next stage in the evolution of the music game. Rocksmith, the first and only game where you can plug into any real guitar. Featuring gameplay that automatically adjusts to your personal ability and innovative game design that makes playing music visually intuitive, Rocksmith will engage experienced musicians as well as those who have never picked up a guitar in their life. You’ll unlock mini games to hone specific skills.
This amazing tyrannosaurus rex balloon sculpture was made by balloon artist Larry Moss. You can check out more of Larry’s work by visiting his website right here.
[Airigami]
Have you ever wondered what the best spot is in your microwave to heat your food more effectively? If this is the case, listen to the following video from Smarter Every Day and you’ll never have to wonder again!
[Via TDWG]
Unfortunately, this chess set is unique, and even if you’d throw all your money at the guy who made it, he probably wouldn’t sell it to you anyways!
[Source]
Behold the N12, the first 3D-printed bikini ever, a high-tech garment that’s the result of a collaboration between Continuum Fashion and Shapeways. For something that’s completely customized to your own shape, the price isn’t even too bad – the top will set you back about $260 and I assume the bottom is comparable (it’s currently listed as “not for sale”). The bikini is named for nylon 12, the waterproof material it’s printed from.
From Shapeways:
The N12 was designed using Rhino 3D CAD software and specially written algorithmic script to create the structure of the 3D printed fabric. The algorithm uses a complex ‘circle packing’ equation on an arbitrarily doubly curved surface (the bikini). The size of the circles responds to curvature and edge conditions of the form, creating smooth edges and a responsive pattern.
If you’re ready to jump on the 3D printing bandwagon but aren’t quite ready to jump right into swimwear, don’t worry – there are options for you too.