A new concept for a time machine could possibly enable distant future generations to travel into the past, research now suggests.

Unlike past ideas for time machines, this new concept does not require exotic, theoretical forms of matter. Still, this new idea requires technology far more advanced than anything existing today, and major questions remain as to whether any time machine would ever prove stable enough to enable actual travel back in time.

Time machine researchers often investigate gravity, which essentially arises when matter bends space and time. Time travel research is based on bending space-time so far that time lines actually turn back on themselves to form a loop, technically known as a “closed time-like curve.”

“We know that bending does happen all the time, but we want the bending to be strong enough and to take a special form where the lines of time make closed loops,” said theoretical physicist Amos Ori at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. “We are trying to find out if it is possible to manipulate space-time to develop in such a way.”

Many scientists are skeptical as to whether or not time travel is possible. For instance, time machines often are thought to need an exotic form of matter with so-called “negative energy density.” Such exotic matter has bizarre properties, including moving in the opposite direction of normal matter when pushed. Such matter could theoretically exist, but if it did, it might be present only in quantities too small for the construction of a time machine.

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The new Gun O’Clock from Japanese toymaker Bandai, due for release this November 15. It’s just the latest of a number of weird and bizarre alarm clocks that require the bleary-eyed sleeper to take extraordinary means to quell that persistent wake-up call. In this case, it’s shooting the clock.

The Gun O’Clock plays on a familiar theme – wanting to “kill” that annoying, super loud alarm which has been designed to wake you from your all-too-short slumber. Now, you can do just that… but it takes a clear shot to the target’s bullseye and by the time you’ve accomplished that, you’re wide awake. Two “game modes” are offered: Time Trial and Random Shot.

[VIA]

Yes, this is something new and useful. A watch with integrated cellphone by Van Der Led.

The MW2 is the succesor of MW1 and is a quad-band GSM watch with itty bitty 1.3-inch, 260k color touchscreen display, dual stereo Bluetooth, up to 240-hours of standby or 300-minutes talk, and 1GB of storage for a few of your MP3 or MP4 files. Also, has Java support, build in speaker (for handfree talking), micro SD support, call vibration, FM radio, USB interface and is simlock free, meaning that works in all countries in the world, with all providers.

The watch will be in stock on Monday 14 April, 2008 by Van Der Led’s website and is priced 300 EUR (about $475).

[VIA]