Popular_Science_Australia_November_2016

Muscles emit tiny

electrical pulses as

they contract. Receptors

in a shark’s snout and

along its flanks

detect these minute

signals when animals

move through water,

helping Jaws stalk its

prey. Sharkbandz—a

predator-repelling

wristband—contains

powerful magnets

that scramble a shark’s

ability to read these

signals—almost

like getting a bright

light shone in your

eyes. But don’t worry:

It doesn’t hurt the animal.

Not as much as the animal

could hurt you, anyway...

Wearable Shark

Repellent

G

SHARKBANZ

WRISTBAND

E

CALLAWAY

XR16 DRIVER

Aircraft-Grade

Golf Club

Callaway wanted a driver that could

slice through the air like a jet, so it

turned to Boeing. Tiny ridges on the

XR16’s club head cut air resistance by

30 per cent over Callaway’s next-best

driver. Speed adds distance to drives.

PHOTO CREDITS SEE PAGE 87

Waterproof jackets

might keep rain out, but

runners and cyclists still

end up soaked—in sweat.

The North Face and

Gore-Tex have made an

ultralight waterproof

shell that breathes. The

fabric has a microgrid

backer that airs out

perspiration. As sweat

condenses, the grid lets

it out as vapour. It also

has a membrane that’s

tight enough to make

sure water beads on the

outside. Once the storm

passes, the jacket can be

shoved into a pocket.

No-Sweat

Rain Jacket

H

THE NORTH FACE

HYPERAIR GTX JACKET

There are no outlets

at the beach, but there

is plenty of salt water.

The Hydra-Light turns

seawater into power

for a lantern or USB-

powered devices. In

the reservoir, a

magnesium alloy rod

slowly oxidises in salt

water, releasing

electrons in the process.

A carbon-based cathode

grabs and funnels those

electrons to connected

gadgets, providing more

than 250 hours of power

for illumination or

charging electronics.

Beachside

Phone Charger

F

HYDRA-LIGHT PL-500

SALTWATER CHARGER

E

G

F

H

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