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
What was the most revolutionary gadget that you just can't live without? Browse through the nominees and make your vote
The iPhone is more than just a gadget. It's a genuine handheld computer, the first device that really deserves the name
Lev Grossman discusses the process of choosing the Best Inventions of the Year
All the details on the newest products to help you decide how to spend your money wisely
A research team at Philips has developed clothes that look good and let others know how you feel
NASA, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force are teaming up to develop a Blended-Wing Body aircraft for the military
From Leonardo DaVinci to the YouTube gurus, read about how these inventors changed our lives
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
Pictures of the Week
The Wrestler: Mickey Rourke's Comeback
Chef Mario Batali
An E-Mail Plea: Help Pay My Tuition!
True Blood: Undead on Arrival
Damien Hirst: Bay Boy Makes Good
Collider Triggers End-of-World Fears
Free Running Jumps onto World Stage
David Cronenberg Tries Opera
How Fast Should Iraq Re-Arm?