Don’t know what’s new, then take a look at what Popular Science Magazine thinks are the 100 Best Innovations of 2009. The article classifies the list into 11 categories, such as automobiles, aviation/space, computing, entertainment, green, etc. Many of the innovations fall into the category of “what’s old is new again.” E.g., the Product of the Year is a re-make of the stethoscope, invented nearly 200 years ago. Your doctor’s new best friend, transmits your heartbeat to a computer which can then chart and analyze the beats/sounds for abnormalities, as well as play back the sounds at 1/2 speed for easier diagnosis. Other favorites, include wallpaper that is strong enough to withstand a wrecking ball; a powder that can clean mercury-contaminated water 100 times more effectively than any other method – and at 1/2 the cost; and the WolframAlpha search engine which delivers answers rather than links.
Bonus: You also can get a sneak peak at what’s coming in 2010 by clicking here.
