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 …

Tokyo in High Definition

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

Photographer Jeffrey Martin is known for extremely high-definition panoramic shots of famous places and cities. His most recent 180-gigapixel shot of Tokyo does not disappoint. Zoom in from up to 25 kilometers away to reveal stunningly clear details, from the leaves on a tree to the expressions of unsuspecting office workers. Martin used seven cameras to capture tens of thousands of images, all the while …