Finally, the days of ruined breakfasts and tossed cups of coffee will be a thing of the past, thanks to work being done by researchers in the US and China. Scientists have discovered a simple chemical reaction that can sense if your 2 percent has lost its charm before you get it home and crack it open. The system works by floating a small widget in the milk which can be scanned at a supermarket checkout by magnet -- the device will vibrate slowly if the liquid has thickened. The same will occur if the potentially harmful bug Staphylococcus aureus -- which can cause food poisoning -- thins the consistency of the milk. Researchers claim that the system will cost less than a penny per carton, and could also be used in fruit juices. This all sounds pretty altruistic, but as soon as you can get this into super-cheap domestic beers, please give us a call.

[Via Switched]

We've seen some fairly sinister alarm clocks in our day -- ones that fly around, nearly make you go deaf and "explode" if you don't get up in time, for starters -- but this DIY creation is definitely lobbying for top honors. The Turing Alarm Clock, which has admittedly been making the rounds of late, starts making racket just as any other alarm clock when the time comes, but rather than letting you smash the snooze button, it forces you to answer math questions with varying levels of difficulty before quieting down. Evil? Sure. Effective? You betcha. Check the video after the jump.

[Via Hack-A-Day]

We're not exactly sure when 1080p projectors became fit for "educational applications," but if that is indeed the case, consider us enrolled. Mitsubishi's FL7000U projector is hailed as the firm's first ultra-bright 1080p HD PJ "for commercial, home theater and education installations." Specs wise, it features 5,000 lumens, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a trio of 1.1-inch 3LCD inorganic panels -- somehow, all that adds up to a list price of $14,995. 'Course, it can create "side-by-side images for enhanced video conferencing applications," and there is a built-in motion-sensitive anti-theft alarm, but we still can't see throwing this on anything other than a university card.

Unless you're waking to a playlist, you're likely subjecting yourself to a constant AM rehash of the same alarm drudgery. The kind of fitful start which makes any netizen long for the gray and death-accented cubicle release of work. Enter Sleep.FM, "the social alarm clock." The beta service allows your friends and family to record custom audio alarms which playback on your PC or other Internet enabled device. "Honey I've left, and I took the kids," has never been so arousing. Tear-jerker of a demonstration after the break.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

If you thought the original Neverlate 7-day alarm clock kept your eyes peeled, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Years after the original took bedside tables by storm, American Innovative has finally unveiled the Neverlate Executive, which boasts a sleeker design along with a myriad new amenities. For starters, this version includes a pair of 7-day alarm banks, Daily Reminders and a full-blown Preferences Menu that enables you to control everything from the backlight brightness to the alarm duration. You'll also find an AM / FM tuner, which as you may expect, allows users to assign different stations to each alarm; furthermore, the line-in, headphone and USB jacks add even more connectivity options, and the Descending Snooze feature forces you to wake up after you slam it too many times. Interested consumers can get their pre-order in now for $59.95, and truthfully, that's a small price to pay when staring termination (due to chronic tardiness, of course) in the face.

[Via Gizmag]

If you're truly trying to protect wares that actually posses a substantial level of worth, we'd recommend a few alternatives more suited for the job, but if you're simply trying to keep the office snoop from "borrowing" your red stapler, this cubicle defense system ought to suffice. Put simply, the three devices can be set up around your personal space, and while the first unit simply flashes, emits a blast and simultaneously alarms the other two, the second device actually throws out an uber-terrifying (okay, so maybe that's a stretch) red beam to further startle the invader. If he / she persists, the final unit launches two non-lethal missiles to let that encroacher know that you mean business. Yeah, it's not exactly intimidating, but if you've nothing better to do than watch a demonstration of the $39.99 system in action, check it out after the jump.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Looking for a totally elaborate, complicated, and kind-of-ugly dock for your iPhone or media-playin' mobile device? You're in luck, because iHome is about to deliver the goods... big time. Enter the iHC5, a remote-controlled, Bluetooth-equipped, 4-speaker-sporting pile of accessory goodness. The system -- which is made to handle all kinds of phones -- features AVRCP and A2DP profiles, has dual alarms for getting you out of bed, and has a line-in for hooking up your CD or MP3 player. Sure, it's not the coolest looking thing in the world, but if you really need a self-contained docking solution for your mobile phone, you could do worse, couldn't you? No word on a release date, though it'll cost you $149.99 when it hits shelves.

[Via iLounge]

No, we don't honestly expect any of you to actually lower your pride enough to replace those Mr. T-styled chains with a posture reminding bird, but at least you've got the option, right? The admittedly zany Sitting Pose Corrector and Reminder Alarm is apparently designed to hang 'round your neck and use internal sensors to determine just how far you're slouched over, and if that spine gets a bit too crooked, we assume it emits an embarrassing array of noises to straighten you back out. Again, we've no idea who'd submit themselves to this type of inhumane torture, but for just $8.43, it'd make for a swell gag gift.

[Via CNET]

There's no shortage of bizarre creations that prevent you from oversleeping, but a Meng Fendi concept could actually help you (and your partner) wake up on the right side of the bed for a change. The simply-titled "Ring" sports an alarm clock dock with two times and a pair of wearable hoops, which enables you to wake up at a different time than your third-shift-workin' SO. Moreover, the elastic vibrating rings are donned at night, and simply provide a constant buzz to get your attention rather than wrecking your rest with a piercing array of beeps. Click on for a few more shots.

[Via Yanko Design]

Giving you yet another venue to throw down your hard-earned dollars instead of just taking it easy and obeying traffic laws while motoring, Cheetah has introduced a GPSMirror that can detect just about anything you'd need to know about whilst cruising down the highway. Sporting a SiRF Star III GPS receiver, anti-glare coating, and the ability to divulge alerts via voice, visuals, or frighteningly loud sounds, this rear view mirror replacement purportedly keeps you informed of upcoming speed cameras of all varieties, radar / laser detectors, and accident zones. Additionally, the device can even display your speed from behind the mirrored glass in case the speedometer in your '72 Beetle has been pleasantly perched on zero for the past decade. The unit supposedly plays nice with your current radar / laser detector, and can relay data via its aural abilities to slow you down. Speedsters can pick up the GPSMirror now for £199.99 ($395), and thanks to the PC-based interface and internet database downloads, there are no monthly fees for its handy services.

[Via NaviGadget]

There's no shortage of vibrating alerts available for your cellphone these days, and while the MBW-100 watch will kindly inform you of whose calling while still looking relatively stylish on your arm, BlueQ's simplified attention getter certainly lacks any hint of fashion. BQ Wireless has unveiled a stripped down wristband that simply sports an internal Bluetooth module, on / off button, and a Transfer button in case your cellphone won't automatically take over the cal from the device. Put simply, this wrist adornment shakes your arm when someone's trying to ring you up, and while this may be somewhat less noticeable than a blaring ringtone in the middle of a crucial interview, it's bound to be exponentially more embarrassing when someone informs you that your articulatio radiocarpea is buzzing uncontrollably. Nevertheless, it's slated to hit retailers in July for $39.95 if you're still interested.

[Via Slashphone]

Alright, so ShatterGARD Inc. definitely doesn't intend for its FogSHIELD PB 240 (pictured after the break) to actually be used in nightclubs, but ejecting "enough fog to cover 2,000 square feet in less than 15 seconds" could definitely get the mood set real quick like. Marketed at homes and businesses who feel that they should add yet another layer of security to their pre-existing systems, the device is wired up to trip sensors that are already installed, and when triggered, can emit a non-toxic fog that purportedly "gives the intruder no option but to scurry for the door." Humorously, the company even points out that the smoke carries a "pleasant mint smell and dissipates completely within 45 minutes," which should ensure that any future crooks not only get a breath of fresh air when invading your premises, but that they return in just under an hour to give it another go. No details on pricing were readily available, but it was noted that the initial installation comes with enough fog to erupt on 15 occasions, but if you seriously end up needing to stop over a dozen invaders from breaching your property, we'd suggest a change in scenery.

While there's certainly a variety of options to keep watch and protect your property from curious intruders, the latest branch of vCrib gives a new meaning to being on guard. Crafted by the designer of the Virtual Crib home automation software, the USB BB gun sports automatic firing, manual reloading, and the ability to fire based on commands given remotely on a PC. Moreover, the weapon actually packs a webcam on the barrel, allowing users to login via computer, tilt / swivel the gun with simple mouse flicks, and fire away if you spot any intruders within its broad line of sight. It shouldn't need mentioning that we'd make absolutely sure our landlord was cool with mounting a remotely-controlled weapon in the window, but if you need to take home security into your own hands (without actually being at home), be sure to click on through to see this controversial creation spittin' hot fury.

Meet the BANCLOCK alarm clock. Not to be confused with the bang clock, this alarm clock features a display like a national debt ticker and alarm which can only be turned off by feeding the damn thing some coin. No option to snooze here brother. Of course, there's nothing to prevent you from feeding it slugs you cheap azz, but you're only cheating your kids of their education. Available in Japan for ¥5,985 or $51 bucks which is itself, a crime.

[Via Akihabara News]

If you're a driver prone to nodding off and awakening to oncoming traffic, Revex's Drowse Prevention Alarm would be well worth the (non-wallet-crushing) ¥1,200 (about $10.30) investment. Dare to tilt your head 10 degrees and an alarm sounds off, reducing the chances of accidents and collisions. The battery-operated, in-ear device has an off, low, and high setting -- potentially dangerous if you fail to choose wisely. Obviously if it's turned off, your chance of barreling off a bridge greatly increases. Try out the low setting, and if you still fall asleep and live through it, you'll know to use the high setting on your next excursion. And if that doesn't work, we suggest you take the bus.

[Via Plastic Bamboo]