A square wheel bicycle and other crazy ideas took off

It is often said that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Ironically, a recent reinvention has taken place in the form of a bicycle with square wheels. Surprisingly, it's not a contemporary art piece showcased in a fancy museum; rather, it serves as a fully functional, everyday means of transportation. Contrary to expectations, these square wheels don't rotate. Upon closer examination, their design reveals an outer track that moves around the entire frame, functioning similarly to a treadmill. As the rider pedals, the track moves and rotates around the frame, providing a smooth ride.

Now, let's unveil the secret behind another intriguing invention: a peculiar U-shaped robot designed for a new toothbrush by a French company called Y Brush. This toothbrush claims to efficiently clean teeth, reducing the recommended 2 minutes of brushing twice a day to a mere 10 seconds. Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2017, it now graces Amazon's virtual shelves. The toothbrush features 35,000 soft nylon filaments that simultaneously brush all teeth at a 45° angle, challenging traditional dental advice.

In the realm of automotive innovation, changing the color of your car traditionally requires significant time, effort, and expertise. However, a color-changing car might soon make this process effortless. About a year ago, BMW introduced the I Vision D, an electric sports sedan concept with the ability to transform from a monochromatic design to a vibrant array of shades and tints. Packed with futuristic technology, including AI-powered virtual assistance and heads-up displays, this concept showcases the rapid evolution of automotive design.

Meanwhile, at the University of California, San Diego, innovative minds are developing a wearable device that generates electricity from the sweat on your fingertips. This gadget, which continues to work even while you're asleep, produces energy through simple activities like typing on a phone or playing the piano. Wearing it for 10 hours during sleep can generate enough power to keep an electronic watch running for a full day.

Shifting to the realm of vision correction, around 3 million people in the UK, and millions more globally, grapple with color blindness. Enter EnChroma sunglasses, a revolutionary solution that uses specialized lenses to filter out specific light wavelengths, allowing individuals with color blindness to experience the world in its full spectrum of colors. Moreover, Oxford University researchers have developed augmented reality glasses designed to aid individuals with visual impairments, providing real-time information about their surroundings for enhanced navigation.

Addressing environmental concerns, scientists from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague have devised self-propelling microbots, resembling red blood cells in size, to tackle the issue of plastic waste. These microbots utilize solar energy to move around and consume microplastics, showcasing a potential solution to the environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution in the oceans.

Exploring historical grooming trends, a bygone era witnessed the popularity of the walrus mustache and beard combo. To streamline morning routines, a group shaving machine emerged, theoretically capable of shaving 12 individuals simultaneously. However, its shortcomings, such as an inability to adapt to different face shapes, resulted in uneven shaves and, in some cases, cuts and abrasions.

In the Victorian era, facial hair care reached new heights with the invention of the mustache cup by British Potter Harvey Adams. Taking it a step further, Ruben P. Holland patented a mustache guard in 1890, suspending a gentleman's mustache out of harm's way while eating and drinking. Though it may appear somewhat uncomfortable, it attests to the lengths people went for the perfect mustache.

Finally, delving into the culture of tipping, the '50s saw the invention of an automated tip requester by amateur inventor Russell E. Oaks. Featuring an artificial hand and cash box, this device could be strapped around one's waist. If a guest's tip fell short, a simple display of the "no tip" sign sufficed, allowing the machine to handle the awkwardness of soliciting gratuities.

And that concludes our journey through a myriad of inventive and often quirky creations that have left their mark on various aspects of our lives.