I hate crickets. You know, those bugs that somehow find their way into your home and spend the night chirping and keeping you awake. I have a strict “stomp that bastard” rule in my house. If you see a cricket inside and let it live, you hunt until you find and smash it, lest it keep me awake at night. While I want those annoying buggers dead, I’d never eat a cricket.
For those more daring, there are now chips that are made from crickets, appropriately called Chirps. Each of the chi(r)ps is made with one whole cricket. I assume those black dots to be smashed cricket guts. You can get them in BBQ, cheddar, or sea salt flavors to cover up the disgusting bug taste. Each bag offers up 5g of protein, courtesy of insects.
A bag of Chirps sells for $3.99(USD) over at ThinkGeek. I’d rather huff whey powder than eat a chip made out of a smashed bug.
Tardigrades are fascinating microscopic creatures with some properties that baffle most scientists. Also known as ‘water bears’, “they can survive temperatures ranging from near absolute zero (?458 °F) up to 300 °F, withstand pressures 6 times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches or radiation hundreds of times higher than what’s lethal for humans, and even survive in the vacuum of outer space. They can also survive without food and water for over 30 years.” They even survive the vacuum of space. So it sort of makes sense that a creature as cool as these would be made into a plushie, because once you give it to your kid they’ll inevitably ask what the heck it is and you’ll have an opportunity to educate them on a bunch of sciencey topics. They’re as anatomically correct as can be, albeit 1,000 larger than their real life counterparts. They cost 4,104 Yen, or roughly $36USD.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ NoPuedoCreer ]
If you think a one-man mosquito tent is just a little too bizarre for you, then you can maybe tone it down a notch while still doing something about protecting yourself from the little bloodsuckers. The Knee Length Mosquito Netting Sock are meant to protect whatever exposed skin you might have below the knee. They don’t get you a 10/10 on the looks department, but we suspect you don’t much care about that if you’re even considering this.
Worn over regular clothing and shoes, the socks protect against insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus and Zika, as well as the discomfort of itchy welts. Only available from Hammacher Schlemmer, the socks stay in place with elastic collars that conform to shoes. While standard insect repellents must be reapplied after several hours, the socks provide continuous, nontoxic, and environmentally friendly coverage without DEET or fragrances. The machine-washable polyester stretches to allow freedom of movement while engaging in outdoor pursuits, and is breathable so it won’t trap heat, helping you stay cool even in tropical climates.
We’ll wait until the full body netting suit gets released (you know it’s just a matter of time…) before we make any purchase. If you can’t wait that long, these socks will cost you $20.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ NoPuedoCreer ]
Today on In Case You Missed It: YouTuber Colin Furze teamed up with Ford to build a working hoverbike within just a few weeks, from his shed. It runs off of two diesel engines so granted, it's probably not the most mass-production friendly item, bu...
Granted, we’re talking about toy cars, but this is totally legit. Toys’R’Us is selling the BugRacer, which is a battery-powered toy car that features a special cockpit meant to accommodate a cricket. No, the cricket isn’t included in your purchase, so after your child acquires one (either through bug hunting in the yard, or at the pet store), he’ll be able to coax him into the tiny ‘control room’. Sensors within detect the insect’s position, and steer the vehicle accordingly. Sure, the car is going to bump into stuff and drive around erratically, it’s a bug after all, but it’s programmed to simply back up when it hits a wall. There’s even an auto-pilot mode if you feel like Jiminy is too drunk to drive that day. It’s a cool way to get your child interested in insects, which could lead to an interest in biology and science in general. It’s $35.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]