Do you remember Star Trek's holographic viewscreens that would disappear when not in use? We may have something like them in the near future. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a system that projects images onto the surfaces of bubbles:

"It is common knowledge that the surface of soap bubble is a micro membrane. It allows light to pass through and displays the colour on its structure," the lead researcher, Yoichi Ochiai from the University of Tokyo, wrote in his blog.

"We developed an ultra-thin and flexible BRDF [bidirectional reflectance distribution function, a four-dimensional function defining how light is reflected at an opaque surface] screen using the mixture of two colloidal liquids."

News Story and Video -via Walyou | Screenshot from the University of Tokyo

The Galileo has seen better days, but after a solid restoration job, it should serve as a solid commuter vehicle. Kiko Auctions sold this 1:1 scale prop from the original Star Trek series last week after a fierce last-minute bidding war.

News Story and Auction Site -via Born Rich | Images: Paramount, Kiko Auctions

Don't throw that bag away! It's valuable. Lauren DiCioccio sewed a taffeta shopping bag and embroidered it to look like a cheap plastic sack.

Link -via Boing Boing

Previously by this artist: Embroidered Newspaper

A fool and his head are soon parted. And only a fool buys a bat'leth from the back of a Ferengi freighter with the impulse engine idling. This Klingon warrior should have known that today was not a good day to buy.

Link -via reddit

The superiority of Star Trek to Star Wars is obvious. Or it should be obvious. Alas, to some poor souls, it is not. Scott Meyer explains how to gently break the news to Star Wars devotees. Read the rest at the link.

Link

For the vintage taste, try Bakerella's Instagraham cookies. They're scratch-made graham crackers decorated with the Instagram logo. You can find her recipe at the link.

Link -via Tasteologie

If you want to photobomb someone, it takes hard work and speed. This sloth has both. He dropped in front of several international student volunteers in Costa Rica posing for a photo.

Link -via American Digest | Photo: Manuel Ramirez

(Video Link)

The problem with mechanical bull riding is it's not always obvious who is the winner and who is the loser. This project by the Madagascar Institute (motto: "Fear is never boring) solves that problem by making two identical mechanical bulls move according to one controller. The system throws off one competitor before the other and exposes the loser to abject humiliation. Which, as we all know, is right and fitting and proper.

Link -via Make

P.S. I've just had a brilliant idea: never mind the treadmill desk. Let's build a mechanical bull desk!

Christopher Jobson writes:

I was walking in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood a few weekends ago when I happened upon an enormous stack of Monopoly ‘Chance’ cards made from plywood and bolted to the sidewalk announcing a marriage proposal at a nearby church. It was awesome. Immediately I started wondering if it was a genuine proposal? Was it a joke? Or could it be… ART?!

It was indeed art. A mysterious street artist who goes by the name Bored made enormous Monopoly spaces, cards, markers and dice and left them on sidewalks.

Pro tip: Chicago cops do not regard a Get out of Jail card as legally valid.

Link | Bored's Website

Like an auto-deleting ebook, The Book That Can't Wait will vanish in 60 days. It's printed with ink that disappears when exposed to sunlight. The Buenos Aires-based publisher Eterna Cadencia created this anthology of stories by new authors to encourage audiences to read them.

Link -via Oddity Central Image: Eterna Cadencia

Tired of the nurse stabbing you because s/he can't find a vein? These new glasses by 2AI Labs may help. They have color filters designed to spot blood. The developers anticipate that medical professionals will use them in three ways:

– (i) a vein-finder, or oxygenation-isolator, that amplifies perception of oxygenation modulations under the skin (and eliminates perception of variations in the concentration of hemoglobin),
– (ii) a trauma-detector, or hemoglobin-concentration-isolator, that amplifies perception of hemoglobin concentrations under the skin (and eliminates perception of variations in oxygenation), and
– (iii) a general clinical enhancer, or oxygenation-amplifier, that combines the best features of the first two; it eliminates neither signal (i.e., it retains perception of both variation in Hemoglobin oxygenation and concentration), and only amplifies perception of oxygenation.

Link -via Gizmodo | Photo: Mark Changizi

It's a fun place and you'll want to stay for a while. So pack a lunch because Pizza doesn't share. You can find many more examples of her surreal work at the link.

Artist's Website -via Geekosystem

Big bore engines may guzzle gas, but they also provide plenty of space to chill wine bottles. Sylwester Grumula made this and other tables from salvaged car engines.

Link -via Walyou

A sonic screwdriver won't work on wood, but it can do everything else at a wedding, from cutting the cake to officiating. Snarkbat's turned into a bouquet made from the pages of a Sherlock Holmes story.

Link | Photo: Stephanie Jones Photography

The fourth little pig built his house out of LEGO. Would you like to do the same? The materials are pricey, but you'll get the attention of your homeowners' association. Try out Movoto Real Estate's calculator at the link.

Link -via VA Viper

Previously: Inside the LEGO House