The Best Inventions Of The Year

Environment

Kicking Ash

John B. Carnett / Popular Science
Article Tools

Each year coal-fired power plants dump millions of tons of mercury-laced ash into landfills. Henry Liu has found a way to compress this waste into fly-ash bricks that are eco-friendlier than their clay counterparts. The bricks conserve energy (they're made at room temperature), and tests suggest they may even suck mercury out of the surrounding air.
Available 2009
greenestbrick.com

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Cast Your Vote

Vote for the Gadget of the Year

What was the most revolutionary gadget that you just can't live without? Browse through the nominees and make your vote

Invention of the Year

The iPhone

The iPhone is more than just a gadget. It's a genuine handheld computer, the first device that really deserves the name

Video

How We Chose The List

Lev Grossman discusses the process of choosing the Best Inventions of the Year

Shopping

Tech Buyer's Guide

All the details on the newest products to help you decide how to spend your money wisely

Photo Essay

Emotive Clothing

A research team at Philips has developed clothes that look good and let others know how you feel

Photo Essay

The X-48B

NASA, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force are teaming up to develop a Blended-Wing Body aircraft for the military

Timeline

Best Inventors

From Leonardo DaVinci to the YouTube gurus, read about how these inventors changed our lives

Viewpoint

Warren Buffett, Adjust My Bra

Scientists in Hong Kong have discovered there's a better way to build a bra. How will the lingerie industry respond? An open letter to the one man who can help