Demystifying Art on Amazon

Coffee as Viagra, car crushing, Tokyo in high-def and more in our weekly look at the web

This week, Amazon launched a high-end art marketplace that grants access to over 40,000 pieces of fine art, culled from over 150 dealers and galleries. This is no Etsy—the price point spans a more manageable $200 to an exorbitant $2.5 million. In true Amazon fashion, users can search by subject, color, size and price, and each work is shown alongside information about the artist, provenance …

Solid Rain

Coffee as Viagra, car crushing, Tokyo in high-def and more in our weekly look at the web

Mexican chemical engineer Sergio Jesus Vaelasco has created instant water. Using a highly absorbent polymer scientifically known as potassium polyacrylate, the tiny crystals absorb about 500 times their size and begin to look like much large, water-filled salt crystals. Originally intended to make diapers more absorbent, Vaelasco’s blend for Solid Rain has shown dramatic benefits when planted among crop fields and dry climate gardens. Watch …

The Anti-Social App

Coffee as Viagra, car crushing, Tokyo in high-def and more in our weekly look at the web

Smartphone technology has allowed people to connect and share their lives in unprecedented levels. While this is often considered a positive feature of modern life, sometimes you just want to keep a low profile. The recently launched Hell is Other People app is crafty way to avoid people you know. Using social network check-ins, the app creates safe zones a reasonable distance away from hot …