Technabob » glow in the dark

Glowing Kittens Bred by AIDS Researchers

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:19:11 +0000

I would like a glowing cat just for the fact that I tend to step on the dumb felines at my house because they don’t get out of my way when it’s dark. If they glowed, I would be able to see them, not step on them, and when they barricade themselves under my bed I could find them. These cute glow in the dark cats have a higher calling than just making it easy to find them at night.

Scientists have inserted an anti-viral gene into the genetically engineered cats that help the resist the feline form of AIDS. The gene for a fluorescent protein called GFP was also inserted into the cats as well. Apparently, the glowing gene was simply inserted as a way to monitor the activity of altered genes. “We did it to mark cells easily just by looking under the microscope or shining a light on the animal,” said Dr Eric Poeschla, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, US.

The genes for glowing and for resisting feline AIDS were inserted into the feline eggs known as oocytes. Both cats and humans have proteins that typically fight infections that are not able to fight AIDS, whereas the anti-viral gene helps produce a protein that can resist AIDS-causing viruses. The researchers report that there was a reduced replication of the feline AIDS virus in the (glowing) cats with the additional gene.

[via BBC]

Glow-in-the-Dark Kryptonite Candy Will Defeat Your Super Sweet Tooth

Lambert Varias — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:58:25 +0000

I’ve never heard of a supervillain-themed party, but if you’re planning on throwing one then you might want to check out this recipe for Kryptonite Candy by Britt Michelsen aka BrittLiv, the same person who made the Pixel Trash Can. BrittLiv used Riboflavin vitamin B2 in place of the non-existent mineral, because apparently the nutrient glows in UV light, and even in direct light.

Making kryptonite candy seems pretty simple. All you need are some vitamin B2 pills, water, sugar and food coloring. The only tricky part is that you’ll have to cook with as little light as possible. More on that in a bit.

So why would you need to make this candy in the dark? You see, unlike Superman’s most hated ore, Kryptonite Candy won’t glow forever. According to BrittLiv, exposure to light will eventually “destroy” Vitamin B2, but the process is pretty slow so you’ll have ample time to enjoy your glow-in-the-dark candy. BrittLiv didn’t mention if it’s still safe to eat the candy after the Vitamin B2 has degraded. Now that might be your stomach’s kryptonite. Practice your evil laughter and check out Instructables for the recipe.

[via Make:]

Uranium Soap Glows in the Dark, Won’T Make Your Hair Fall Out

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:28:49 +0000

I happen to think one of the most useless inventions known to man is the decorative soap. My wife loves this stuff though, and has little flowers and dainty bars in the bathrooms around the house that we aren’t allowed to use. I used one of those flowers in a pinch once and had to go to couples therapy afterward. I think what I need is my own decorative soap, only I would probably use this soap because it glows and it’s hard to resist glowing soap, everyone knows that.

The soap glows with a sickly, radioactive green light and the front is printed with the periodic table element marking for Uranium. The soap has to be exposed to light to glow, much like anything else that has glowing properties.

The strangest thing about this soap isn’t the glow, it’s the scent. The bar of soap smells like the ocean. I assume that means salt and rotten fish. In the case of the Texas Gulf Coast, the soap might be crude oil scented. A bar will cost you $6.99 over at Perpetual Kid.

[via 7Gadgets]

Iron Man Cross-Stitch: Proof That Tony Stark Can be Art

Lambert Varias — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:39:13 +0000

Tony Stark would probably balk at the idea of an Iron Man cross-stitch, but I’m sure he’ll change his mind once he sees the surprise that this particular piece has.

Behold! Evil Iron Man:

I didn’t know there was such a thing as glow in the dark thread until I saw this piece.

It’s a shame there’s no orange or yellow glow in the dark thread. You can view larger versions of the Iron Man cross-stitch at Stitchfight’s Flickr page.

[via Time Travel and Rocket-Powered Apes]

Glow-in-the-Dark iPhone 4 Perfect for Raves

Technabob — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:43:30 +0000

Thanks to the smooth, flat edge of the iPhone 4, it’s the perfect surface for applying vinyl decals to protect the metal finish (and help with the phone’s antenna sensitivity issues when touching parts of the metal too). But why get some boring old sticker when you can have a phone that glows in the dark?

I’m not sure how long the phone glows once the lights go off, but if you happen to be hanging out in a nightclub with blacklights, I’d bet it would be brightly glowing all the time. When it’s not glowing, the durable 5-year vinyl gives your iPhone 4 a nice white edge – which will probably look great with the upcoming white iPhone 4.

You can get the glow-in-the-dark iPhone decal over at 2TWENTY2′s Etsy shop for $8.99 (USD).

[via Gadgetsin]

TRON-Themed NES Offers Glowy Goodness

Technabob — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:43:08 +0000

On the surface, this TRON-inspired NES mod doesn’t look like much. But when the lights go down, it’s like a Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner invited your console to a party.

Once fully charged with black light, Thretris‘ modded NES really comes to life, glowing with a brightness that could only be bested if it were electroluminescent. For added effect, Thretris added some cool blue LEDs behind the power switches. The mod also has a pair of 1/4″ audio jacks so you can hook the console up to a stereo system (even though the sound is still mono).

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The glowy stuff used to create the TRON circuit design not just reactive to UV and black light, it keeps glowing for quite some time after the light source has been removed.

Too bad they never made a TRON game for the NES. Thretris, you’d better get working on that glowing Intellivision.

[via GoNintendo]

Glow in the Dark Toilet Paper: for Bathroom Raves

Lambert Varias — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:17:08 +0000

Use it to make a mean and green mummy! TP your parent’s room with it! Hell, TP your own room! Make glow in the dark origami! Do anything, except for actually using it in the bathroom. I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to sit in the dark while I’m in the porcelain throne just so I can wipe with glow in the dark toilet paper. Too creepy and gross.

You can get a roll of glow in the dark toilet paper at I Want One of Those (you bet your ass you want this) for £5 (appx. $8 USD). Techno music not included.

[via likecool]

General Grievous Tote for the Discerning Shopper

Karen M. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:03 +0000

What could be cooler than a hand-stitched General Grievous tote? Um, how about a hand-stitched General Grievous tote that glows in the dark? Oh, how I’d love to flash this Star Wars baddie all around town!

I don’t know that much about it, just that Flickr user woundupladybug is the master behind this creation. She says she made it for her son after he expressed his extreme affection for Clone Wars. It’s stitched with glow-in-the-dark thread for extra nighttime niftiness.

Oh. 1 more thing. Also, I can tell you that it’s AWESOME. That’s a definite.

[via Craft:]