Have you ever felt a compulsive need to see what a leaf really looks like up close? Ever wanted to see what sugar REALLY looks like just before you scoop and stir it into your morning coffee? Have you ever felt like looking at your own skin under the microscope, but felt too embarrassed to ask an actual scientist to let you do it?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then the Mini Microscope for iPhone 4 is here to satisfy the scientist in you!

The Mini Microscope for iPhone 4 is a pocket-sized accessory that transforms the camera of any iPhone 4 into a microscope with 60x magnification, and thanks to the iPhone’s camera function, you can take pictures of all your discoveries — from the strand of hair you found on your shoulder to the dust bunnies beneath your couch.

It has 3 built-in LEDs (2 white for additional illumination, and 1x note detector) to keep you from missing any of the microscopic action that’s taking place all around you.

The Mini Microscope for iPhone 4 is powered by 3 LR1130 batteries and is available at Genie Gadgets for £29.95 ($48).

Do you remember that movie “Men In Black”? Remember how many times they would walk right past the cat with the galaxy hanging around its neck, but couldn’t see it because it was the size of a marble?

If only they had carried a Pocket Microscope with them!

OK, so we all know that there would be no movie at all if they had found the so-called galaxy so soon in the movie. But you have to admit, having a pocket microscope would probably help YOU enjoy all the little things in life: the microorganisms in a drop of water, the real appearance of your hair, and even the slight imperfections that make collectible postal stamps unique.

The Pocket Microscope is a gadget designed to be extremely lightweight and portable; it weighs only 1.12 oz and is about the size of a lighter.

Despite its size, it’s able to provide a powerful 60-100x magnification, plus it features a built-in LED light that ensures a clear, bright image for both nocturnal nosing or daylight detective work.

The Pocket Microscope includes a rubberized eyepiece for comfortable viewing, uses 3 x SG7 (#392) button cell batteries (included) and is available at ThinkGeek for $12.99.

Get yours today and start enjoying the infinite wonders of the microscopic world that surrounds you.

I just took the dog out. I didn’t really want to watch a dog take a dump, so instead I looked up at the sky. Being night time, and unusually cloudless, the view was filled with stars. I had a sudden urge to lie down and just stare up at the mind-blowing view of the cosmos for hours. I shouldn’t have done this, or at least I should’ve looked where the dog had pooped before I sprawled out on the ground. With the Laser Cosmos from IWOOT, I could have just gazed at the stars from my unsoiled bed.

Just turn out the lights, turn on the Laser Cosmos and lie back to stare at a ceiling full of stars, optional blue nebulae and meteors. The size of your room doesn’t matter – the auto-focusing Laser Cosmos will fill it, as if it has given you the power of astral projection. The holographic technology projects a three-dimensional illusion, as if your mind has swelled to the size of a galaxy.

The view from my garden didn’t show many stars, and it was accompanied by a smell of dog excrement. But in space, no-one can smell your dog, and the Laser Cosmos from IWOOT is the next best thing to being in space.

If you have a few million, you could probably get yourself into space, but if you have £64.99, you can watch the cosmos from the comfort of your bedroom.

One thing the future was definitely meant to bring us was floating things: hover boards, levitating chairs, flying cars and such like. Thank heavens, then, for I Want One Of Those, who have brought us the Anti-Gravity Platform…and saved The Future from being a complete wash-out in the process.

This really is an anti-gravity platform. Okay, gravity is not literally negated, and sure, no anti-matter is involved, but what IS provided is a genuine levitating platform kept up by powerful electromagnets. Stick your ornaments, pet rodents, car keys, photos or whatever you like and wow your guests with what really looks like magic. Or, science from the future.

The Anti-Gravity Platform comes with a globe that showcases the levitation to best effect, allowing a gentle nudge to set it rotating in a perpetual spin. Just like the real Earth! And in case you’re concerned someone might somehow miss this gravity-defying show-piece, it also lights up when plugged into the mains. If you manage to power it using wireless electricity, then it becomes a time-machine. (Possibly.)

Just send IWOOT £49.99 and it’s yours.

Why aren’t we living on the Moon? Why can’t I check into a space station hotel on my way to Mars? More than forty years have passed since a gang of dudes went to the Moon to play golf, plant a flag and hang out, and in that time our progress towards the stars has been dismal. The only solution is to inspire the next generation (being your prodigy progeny) to become astronauts, and the way to do this is through the Lego City Space Center.

Once you build your own space port (and let’s face it, you’re going to make sure you get a shot at this well before your kid gets anywhere near it), you can get your rocket into position and fuel the tank up ready to launch into the final frontier. Get the mechanic and the operator minifigs to make sure everything runs smoothly before your two astronauts board and wait for the countdown to hit lift-off…

Okay, it won’t actually launch a rocket into space, but then, neither will the manned missions to the Moon we were promised not so long ago. It will, however, launch your kid’s stellar imagination.

NASA’s budget might have been cut, but if you can find $81 | £50 | €58 in your pocket we can still go rocket.

“Got Milk?” Nope. But I got fruit-juice caviar!

The Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit helps you learn about the freaky science behind the strange spherification, gelification and emulsification techniques used to make modern foods. Including 50 individually portioned food additives and a step-by-step 50-recipe DVD, you can cook science-up your very own original creations those corporate food scientists ain’t even thunk of yet. Imagine…just a production line and a TV spot away from feeding the (overfed) masses*.

Featuring 5 sets of magi-gredients that reads like a list of food additives to avoid rather than assimilate (Agar, Calcium Lactate, Sodium Alginate, Soy Lecithin and Xanthan Gum) – PLUS – a lab kit fit for a junkie dealer (1 syringe, 5 pipettes, 3 tourniquets lengths of silicone tubing, 1 slotted spoon and a set of measuring spoons), the Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit is food prep ON THE WILD SIDE. $69.99 at ThinkGeek.

*Disclaimer: The Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit makes no claim to provide sustenance of any kind. It does, however, provide the tools and ingredients to create artistic alien foodstuffs that may or may not last forever.

Given the popularity of the Canine Genealogy Kit we’ve seen previously, I thought we’d take a look at this similar genetic tester from BioPet called the DNA Breed Identification Kit. Aiming to help you gain a better understanding of your dog’s personality, behavior and potential health risks – the kit involves you performing a simple, harmless cheek swab test on your dog, which you then send off for analysis. Taking advantage of advances in DNA testing technology to identify your dog’s ancestry, the lab gets to work on your swab and sends you a detailed report two weeks later. Simple, huh? Helping you determine the purity of your purebred or the mix of your mongrel, the DNA Breed Identification Kit is available now from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

We’ve seen various microscopes that help us explore the world on a microscopic level, but none as feature-packed and flexible as this device. Called the Video Screen Microscope, it not only lets you view objects at up to 1600x magnification on a high-resolution 3.5-inch LCD (instead of squinting into an eyepiece) – but with a built-in 2-megapixel camera, lets you try your hand at the fascinating art of macro-photography and video recording.

Combining the advanced features of a professional-grade microscope with the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera, the Video Screen Microscope includes three objective lenses of 4x, 10x or 40x to provide from 40x-400x optical magnification and thanks to its 4x digital zoom, gets extreme close-ups at up to 1600x (see video).

For properly illuminated viewing regardless of subject or lighting conditions, the Video Screen Microscope includes two separate 6-watt LEDs – one at the top for solid objects (like coins or jewelry) and one at the bottom for prepared slides – while a color filter wheel clears things up further by blocking wavelengths of your choosing.

With 128MB of built-in memory that will store up to 120 stills or 40 minutes of video at 1600 x 1200 resolution, the Video Screen Microscope also includes an SD card slot should you want to record organism growth or the multiplication of bacteria over hours or even days.

Including a USB port and cable to download discoveries to your computer running 32-bit versions of Windows XP or Vista, the Video Screen Microscope plugs into AC, includes a carrying case and 5 slides to get you started, measures 13″ high x 6″ wide x 1.5″ deep, weighs 3.25lbs and is available now from Hammacher Schlemmer for $299.95.

Source:
Hammacher Schlemmer

If you’re as clueless as I am about the night sky and barely know your planets from your stars (much less their names), this gadget will help shoot us both to the top of the class. Called the Meade MySky star and planet identifier, it looks like some kind of futuristic ray gun, but instead of firing an energy pulse, shoots you a wealth of knowledge. Just pull the trigger to learn about your target star, planet, nebula or galaxy (though not satellites, starships or aliens, I’m afraid) from a database of over 30,000 celestial wonders.

Utilizing a 12 channel GPS receiver, magnetic North sensors and accelerometers, the MySky helps you to identify and learn about the stars and planets in the night sky and can even take you on a guided audio and visual tour – highlighting the best bits based on the current time and your location.

Featuring a full-color LCD that won’t obstruct your view of the night sky and illuminated sights to easily point at objects, the MySky can also be used in conjunction with a telescope – using its GPS receiver as an orientation aid.

Requiring 4 x AA batteries which will keep you star-gazing for up to 7 hours, the Meade MySky star and planet identifier is available now from Barnes and Noble for $399.95 or IWOOT in the UK for £299.00.

Sources:
Barnes and Noble and I Want One Of Those

If you love to let your adventurous spirit run wild with a spot of star gazing, but have trouble seeing even the brightest of stars thanks to city pollution and ambient light – this here planetary projector may be just the thing to satiate intensify your cosmic wanderlust. Called the Star Theater Pro Home Planetarium, it brings a beautiful, clear, starry night indoors for you to enjoy and relax with in the comfort of your own home.

Featuring a moving projection function that rotates the stars one full revolution every 10 minutes, the Star Theatre Pro will make you feel like you’re sailing (there’s no warp option unfortunately) through space, exploring the final frontier.

Including two interchangeable high-resolution disks (Starfield and Earth/Moon/Sun) as well as a soundtrack to really get your mind wandering – this Home Planetarium incorporates an ultra-bright LED light source, an optical-quality adjustable-focus lens and even a nap timer with 15, 30 and 60 minute shutoff intervals to ensure you wake up with your feet firmly on the ground.

The Star Theater Pro Home Planetarium runs on either AC or 3 AAA batteries, measures 6-inches in diameter and 7-inches tall when on its included stand and is available now from ThinkGeek for $169.99.

Source:
ThinkGeek