All posts filed under: Things that are Innovative

DNA Jewelry from Identity Inside

The concept of giving someone your heart is so overused and cliché, why not give them your DNA instead? As science-fiction as this might sound, a group of scientists based in Switzerland have figured out a way to embed fossilized DNA into a piece of jewelry. It all started when Swiss chemist Dr. Robert Grass wanted to find the perfect present for his wife to celebrate the birth of their first child. So, like any curious man of science, Dr. Grass wondered if he could combine his research of DNA preservation to create the worlds most unique “push present.” He developed a patented process to store his DNA in a diamond that he placed in a custom-designed ring, which has expanded into a small collection of jewelry including a custom-made watch and an 18kt rose gold pendant. To get your DNA in the jewelry, you simply provide a mouth swab sample which is then (not simply) fossilized in glass particles to form a white powder that safeguards the DNA, similar to what is found in …

Morpher Helmet

Designer Jeff Woolf knows the importance of having a helmet on when biking — he nearly smashed his head open on a curb after getting hit by a car. Woolf created the Morpho Helmet after noticing that folks using bike share programs (such as in London) tend not to use helmets because they were too cumbersome to carry around all day. It was a design problem he wanted to fix — he knew if he could create a helmet that could fold flat, then he could save lives. According to the makers of the Morpher Helmet, the number one reason people don’t wear helmets when riding a bike is that the helmet is too bulky to carry around all day, and while 92% of bike scheme cyclists don’t wear a helmet, 83% say the reason is due to lack of portability. Woolf’s new folding bike helmet design will let you ride to work or school safely, and then easily slip your brain-saving helmet into laptop bag or backpack. Although Morpher folds and unfolds quickly, it was also designed to surpass all relevant safety standards. Currently aimed at all cyclists, the …