October-November 2013 Issue
talk nerdy to me
Issue:
Geek Tribute Editor’s Pick:
Nerdgasim Geek Gear Trending Technology
Inside
this
Wrestling
Geek Tribute Conventions
The B est
As Pinkie Pie
HalloweG C o s t u m en
Ever!
R0nnie Rabbit
eek
es
A Niche Webazine Publication
My childhood super hero
GEEK HALLOWEEN
Happy y a d h t Bir HE C I N
!
e n i z a b We
Contributors
Writers: Jess Atkinson Rusheena Bonne Aj Bitner Marsha Green Designers/ Layouts: Jess Atkinson Elena K Photographers: William Harris Stewie B Amy Vanwyk Eddie Harris Kat Squibb Christina Rochelle Dahl Baby Pinups Maria Sallie
: n K
Index
Covers: Ronnie Rabbit by Dahl Baby Pinups
Page 1-2 Contributors and Index
Page 3-4 Super Mario 3D Review
Page 5-7 My Childhood Superhero
Page 8-15 Convention Corner
Page 16-17 Night of Champions
Page 18-19 Geek Gear
Page 20-21 Q and A with Ronnine Rabbit
Page 22-29 Geek Models we love
Page 30-31 Dr Who
Page 32-35 Geek Halloween
Page 36-39 Odd Invention: Zero Energy Fridge
http://www.itespresso.es/nintendo-3d-world-wii-u-3ds-2-112634.html
Super Mario 3D Land Review AJ Bitner
am a recent owner of a Nintendo 3DS. I have always been a Nintendo fan, being that the first system I owned was an NES. The first game I have purchased for my 3DS was Super Mario 3D Land. Here is what is what a 3D experience should be. The graphics are amazing and the ability to switch from Normal View to Expanded Depth on the D-Pad adds a whole new experience to this game. This game starts off like any Super Mario game does, it lets you know that there are 8 worlds and of course the main antagonist is Bowser. Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and stows her away at his creepy castle. This story is awesome and intriguing; between each world is a quick cut scene of the status of Princess Peach with 3D snapshots. I don’t want to give away anything from the story but it got to a point where I thought the game was over and I was kind of disappointed (only because I thought it was to easy) but it threw a curveball at me and made me realize that this game was totally worth it. Many elements of the game are kind of a throwback to the older Mario games with new twists.
Some new features are the mystery boxes which are like a mini game; the propeller box which is kind of a throwback to the propeller suit, little clocks which add 10 seconds to your time and a big clock added 100 seconds. The Street Pass integration is also a novel idea where you share your mystery box with fellow 3DS users. Finally the ability to view your surroundings by pressing the left or right arrows on your 3DS touch screen. This game reminds me of a cross between Super Mario World and Mario Bros 3! So many things were brought over such as classic elements as the Tanooki Suit, Boomerang Suit, coins, castles and etc…
O
verall this game is amazing, it reminded me of being a kid again and having so much fun being Mario and using all his awesome powers. What did for me was the first night I purchased this game I got all the way to world 5 and really didn’t want to put my 3DS down. This game is so intense; the 3D really brings in an emotional step into this game. The worlds where you had to jump down to another part of the world invoked my fear of heights and made the game so real to me. I normally don’t rush through games but I was able to with this game within 5 days of getting this game I was able to complete 100% this game and it sets up for an exciting sequel. Super Mario 3D Land is one of my new favorite games.
FAVORITE S U P E RH ERO “DAREDEVIL” Frank Miller once said that Daredevil should have been a villain and he’s right. That’s part of what makes Daredevil such a great hero. Take a look at Daredevil’s background. Mom left their family. Dad worked for mobsters as a leg breaker, Dad was killed by mobsters. Girlfriend got hooked on drugs, did porn and sold him out for drugs. Another girlfriend became one of the world’s best assassins. A third girlfriend is a former soviet spy and Avenger. His secret identity has been ousted more than once and destroyed his life and battered his friends. Daredevil rediscovers his mom who’s now a Catholic nun! And Daredevil has had a few complete mental breakdowns. And he’s blind. Sure, he has those other super sense and stuff but it still must suck a little. Watching physical comedy for instance would be pointless and he has no idea how attractive Olivia Wilde is. Now add all of this stuff up. Daredevil should be sipping cocktails with Doctor Doom, not protecting Hell’s Kitchen. But he does.
Despite all of these challenges, Daredevil keeps on fighting. There’s something about a character that battle through all this adversity but makes it through the other side that appeals to me. Sure he kind of becomes a villain every now but it’s never a full conversion… except Shadowland and he was possessed so that doesn’t count. Not only that, his trouble is pretty constant. Every time he makes it though the tunnel, he’s just faced with yet another train. But he keeps going. His powers could easily lead to taking over (as Shadowland and the Bendis run examine) but in the end he ends up going back to the red tights and back to work. Did I mention he doesn’t kill? That’s right, Daredevil (with once again the exception of Shadowland) doesn’t kill. Even Bullseye got a pass until the whole demon possession thing, and Bullseye has killed two of Daredevil’s girlfriends. It’s all of these qualities that I feel make Daredevil the best superhero ever. AJ Bitner
Art work by: MarteGracia
Convention Corner Albuquerque, NM – I started looking forward to Albuquerque Comic Expo the moment I heard of it, which — come to think of it — I can’t remember when that was. I recently just came out of the proverbial geek closet. It was a shock to my friends. “What?” “But you’re so badass!” “So that’s why you get so angry after superhero movies.” “I know… I found your comic book stash when we moved you in. I was just waiting for you to tell me.” Having been a closet geek, I did not consort with others of my kind unless it was through the “privacy” of the internet. Going to conventions was a bit overwhelming to think about. Albuquerque Comic Expo 2012 was the very first one I attended. The costumes, the souvenirs, the workshops, the panels…the overload to a geek with Adult ADHD was almost too much. I almost forgot I was there as a media correspondent and let my inner geek fully take over. Albuquerque Comic Expo, or ACE, was held in the Albuquerque Convention Center. The event sprawled two floors of the Albuquerque Convention Center and had a variety of vendors and artists alike. One could find just about anything to fulfill their inner geek’s desire. There was even a Virtual Boy…yes…that’s right a Virtual Boy available for play in one of the many gaming areas. If old school Nintendo wasn’t your thing, you could cross the aisles to the more modern gaming systems. ACE did a fantastic job securing Billy West, Giancarlo Esposito, Walter Emanuel Jones and David Yost for panel
discussions and Q&As. Nicholas Brendon, a fan favorite, participated in ACE’s Karaoke Meet & Greet where Con goers could belt out their favorite song and have a chance to meet and take photos with the former vampire hunter. I have learned a few things from this Con and I will share them with you:
1. Arrive fairly early. Parking is a horrible, filthy part of our existence and it doesn’t get easier when ACE is going on. 2. Food is great. Make sure you stop to eat in between events. A lot of Con goers were seen heading to Zohra, which wasn’t a bad walk for an awesome, affordable meal (the chicken kabob was fantastic!) 3. Water does a body good. For real. Albuquerque’s summers can really take it out of you if you’re not hydrated. Drink up, folks. 4. Don’t be afraid to talk. Ask people questions. Ask questions at Q&As. Nothing is more awkward for the speaker and the audience, when there are no questions to be asked. Feel free to ask any (or none) of the following: Can I follow you on twitter? Can we be facebook friends? What happened to you? You used to look so great! Who’s your agent? Are they taking new clients? 5. Have fun. This event, while three glorious days long, is merely an oversized comic book store if you don’t take advantage of what it has to offer. Go to the anime cafés, play games, talk to the celebrities. Do something! I must say I was not only impressed, but super starstruck and as giddy as a child in a candy store. The event was well organized and full of interesting booths, with all sorts of artistic and eye candy and souvenirs that could easily turn into a last minute gift for a friend. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to cover the event and could not believe just how massive it was. This was an experience I won’t forget. The guests, panels, cosplayers, booths, artists, events were all to something to be admired. Stay Nerdy Planet Earth…
AJ Bitner
Stay Nerdy Planet Earth..
Little Red Riding Hood
TRON
Alice in Wonderland
The Great Gatsby
“Conventions are more than just playing dress up, they are a way of self expression. You can be anyone you want; from any movie, any book, or anything you want to dream of.�Jess Atkinson
Mario Molina: The
Eco-Friendly
Chemist
Written by Rusheena Boone
I
n honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this month’s Geek Tribute is highlighting the accomplishments of Mario José Molina (1943present). Mario Molina is a Nobel Prizewinning chemist, who helped discover the dangers of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) gases. Mario Molina, Sherwood Rowland, and Paul Crutzen’s research is responsible for today’s international Eco-Friendly movement. Molina was born on March 19, 1943, in Mexico City. He studied at universities in Mexico and Germany before continuing his education at the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating in 1972, he attended University of California, Irving in 1973, where he met Rowland. In 1974, Molina, Rowland, and Crutzen discovered that manufactured CFCs contributed to ozone depletion, after researching the decomposition of the ozone layer. The discovery inspired Molina and Rowland to conduct experiments on pollutants in the atmosphere. They found that “CFC gases rise into the stratosphere, where ultraviolet radiation
breaks them into their component elements of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. There, each chlorine atom is capable of destroying about 100,000 ozone molecules before becoming inactive” (Encyclopedia Britannica). The three chemists wrote a paper that described their theories, Molina being the primary author, and later in 1974, their paper was published in the scientific journal Nature. It started a worldwide debate on CFCs and environmental effects, but the debate was silenced about a decade later.
An ozone hole was discovered in Antarctica, in the mid-1980s, which validated Molina, Rowland, and Crutzen’s claims. Molina was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995 for his, Rowland, and Crutzen’s studies. Their studies also led to the banning of CFCs around the world, and they are the reason why more eco-friendly products are being made today.
Resources: Mario Molino. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/ EBchecked/topic/388331/Mario-Molina N.p. (2007). Mario J. Molina - Biographical. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. Retrieved from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/ laureates/1995/molina-bio.html. N.p. (2013). Mario Molina. Biography.com. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/mariomolina-9411313. N.p. (n.d.). Mario Molino. Fact Monster. © 2000–2013 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster. Retrieved from http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/ A0922658.html.
Night of Champions: SUPERSTARS WHO NEED TO SHINE
W
ith John Cena being gone, due to his elbow surgery, the rest of the roster has been told by management to “step up.” There are a number of WWE Superstars who could and should be “main eventers,” and Night of Champions is the perfect Pay-Per-View to showcase their talent. Night of Champions is more than a PPV that spotlights WWE champions. It gives the challengers a chance to prove that they belong in the main event scene and have the potential to be great champions, but it’s also a PPV that reveals who can really hang with the “top guys” in the company. CODY RHODES Cody Rhodes is, without a doubt, a fan favorite. He’s been extremely close to the “title picture” since his rise to WWE stardom in 2011, but his popularity has been waning lately. Why could this be? Rhodes is charismatic, one of the best “workers” in the WWE, and has decent “mic skills”, far better than most of the roster. Rhodes is getting consistent airtime, due to his ongoing feud with Money in the Bank Holder Damien Sandow, and he’s having great matches with top stars. Unfortunately, Rhodes’s recent “face turn” has not been received very well by the fans. To make matters worse, Sandow’s possible Money in the Bank cash-in is not a top priority, at the moment, so their feud may grow stale before Sandow even considers cashing in his briefcase. Rhodes is very versatile, and like any other Rhodes, he can make almost any gimmick work. He has never been a “face,” until now, so he may simply need a little more time to fit into his new role. Night of Champions couldn’t a
Written by Rusheena Boone
more appropriate PPV for Rhodes to add a little variety to his gimmick. No matter what Rhodes will be doing on the show, he needs to make a huge impact, or he may continue to get overshadowed by Sandow. THE MIZ This may be The Miz’s last chance to reclaim his spot in the upper “mid card.” It’s not where most fans would like to see him, but it’s a start and a huge step from hosting MizTV segments every week or commentating on Main Event. Miz has been floundering as a “face,” but his feud with Fandango has renewed hope in another decent push for him. His interaction with Fandango has been the only interesting thing he’s done in months. After this feud ends, it’s likely that Miz will become another Wade Barrett because creative obviously has nothing for him, at the moment. Miz’s “in-ring work” has never been his strong suit, but a 3 to four star match could really help him restore his credibility. CURTIS AXEL Fans seem to be are losing faith in the newest Paul Heyman guy. Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel has barely defended his title, and he’s become a fourth wheel in one of the top feuds in the WWE. Between Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, and CM punk, it’s become quite obvious that Axel doesn’t fit in with the main event crew. He’s decent in the ring, but everything else about him screams “mid carder!” While there’s nothing wrong with being an “Average Joe,” Axel’s character is so “cookie-cutter” that
he could literally be “future endeavored” the next day, and no one would miss him. In order for Axel to garner some attention, he needs to put on an excellent performance in his match against Punk. BRAY WYATT Bray Wyatt’s debut match at SummerSlam didn’t quite live up to the hype; then again, a Ring of Fire match (on PPV, no less) may not have been the best choice for an up-andcomer, especially since no WWE match involving fire has ever been very good. It put a ton of pressure on Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family to deliver a high caliber match in a very limited setting, but after that didn’t happen, the future of Bray Wyatt’s anticipated main event career seems uncertain. Bray Wyatt’s mystique hasn’t worn off, so he has a grand opportunity to captivate fans at Night of Champions. He may not be the best in the ring, but he has a strong enough character to make his matches theatrical. Even he doesn’t have a match, he still has the amazing “mic skills” that easily solidify him a “top guy,” and this upcoming PPV could be his big break. DOLPH ZIGGLER 2013 is, without a doubt, the best year of Dolph Ziggler’s career. He’s had some of his best matches this year, and he finally became a main event player, after winning the World Heavyweight Championship. But his stocked quickly dropped, after suffering from a concussion, shortly after winning the title.
He was already continuing his losing streak as a champion, and after recovering from his concussion, he was, then, used an enhancement talent for Big E Langston, which didn’t work. His feud with Big E only reminded fans that Ziggler deserved a better spot on the roster, but that has yet to into fruition. He used to get some of the biggest “pops” of the night, but the live crowds seem to be losing faith in him, as well. His stagnant push could be to blame, among other things, or it could be his failed “faced turn.” Like Rhodes and Miz, Ziggler has been a “heel” his entire career and is also having trouble coming into his own with his new persona. Luckily for Ziggler, he usually bounces back from unfortunate situations, and he could do this at the PPV. It’s a given that he’ll have a great match, but he could take it a step further, with a little more flair. If Ziggler is booked at Night of Champions, he will most-likely be involved in the “Corporate Evolution” storyline, since he’s no longer in a feud with Big E. He’ll have a great match with a top star or stars, and he’ll get to interact with the future owner of the WWE Triple H. As great as this sounds, it’s a good chance that Ziggler will go back to mid card purgatory, after he is no longer needed in the main event feud. So, on September 15, Ziggler really needs to “show off” that charisma and those exceptional ring skills that made the fans fall in love with him because it could keep him in the main event scene, where he belongs.
Must have “Geek Gear” Editor’s Pick My Neighbor Totoro plushes for fans of Miyazaki Officially-licensed Studio Ghibli product Made by Gund Materials: polyester blend, plush Dimensions: Grey / Oh Totoro - 9” high x 10” wide x 8 1/2” deep (noseto-tail), Blue / Chuu Totoro - 8” high x 8” wide x 7” x 7” deep (nose-to-tail), Catbus - 3 1/2” high x 11” long x 5 1/2” wide Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Found at www.thinkgeek.com
Officially-Licensed Star Wars Collectible Freezer safe down to -40F 7 Han Solos (6 small and 1 large) Still only worth one bounty Bounty Hunter Pro Tip: For crystal clear ice, boil the water twice before pouring it into the tray (allowing the water to cool between each boil). The boiling “deareates the water (i.e. forces dissolved air molecules out). This process also works on various life forms when preparing them for “long term storage”. www.thinkgeek.com
ANVIL UNISEX VALUEFITTED TEE Anvil 100% pre-shrunk cotton fitted t-shirt. Medium-lightweight fabric is very soft and a great value. Sizes: SM-3XL Found at: skreened.com/nichewebazine
UNISEX FITTED TEE American Apparel 100% cotton t-shirt with a fitted / vintage fit. The mediumlightweight jersey fabric is made of ultra-soft combed cotton. Sizes: SM-3XL Found at: skreened.com/nichewebazine
Q and A with Ronnie Rabbit An interview with Aj Bitner
How long have you been modeling/ cosplaying? I have been modeling for a year and a half. So far I’ve developed a good base of photographers to work with. I’m an admin for the Houston Models Forum where all the models in Houston get to share pictures, stories and tips about the modeling industry. I started cosplaying in April when I went to Anime Matsuri in Houston. A lot of animators at my school always talked about their art and how they went to conventions, so that’s how I discovered cosplay. I like dressing up so it was a perfect match! Favorite cosplay costume? My favorite cosplay costume is Pinkie Pie of course! I’m a brony at heart so I love frolicking around with my long pink tail taking pictures with all the other pretty My Little Ponies! I’m part of the Houston Pony Facebook Page group where I can interact with other cosplayers and pony lovers! Inspirations? My inspiration comes from Japanese culture! Even when I don’t cosplay, I still go to anime conventions in and outside the Houston city limits. I’ve even been a Lolita once! Their fashion is so awesome! I want to go to Japan one day after I learn how to speak Japanese. Favorite super hero? My favorite super hero is Wonder Woman! I love her in the 1970’s t.v. show with Lynda Carter! I wish I could just spin around in a circle and turn into a superhero. She became my fav superhero after I got to meet a Wonder Woman cosplayer at my last convention. What first got you into modeling? I was a photographer in high school, college and in the military and just thought I could change it up! I’ve always been into picture taking so this is my art. It’s much easier to model lol! Hobbies? Fun fact we should know about you? My hobbies are : Drinking tea, modeling,
running and Facebooking. I do these things every week. Fun fact: I am a Rockstar energy drinkaholic. I don’t go a day without one. People say that they’re bad but it’s my secret to staying awake in class and at work. Truth is I sleep way too much. Maybe I’m just lazy or get bored easily but snoozing is my favorite hobby. Are you nerd? Or do you enjoy melting nerdy hearts everywhere? Or both? I’m on the Dean’s list so maybe. I think being a nerd is more than being smart. I think I’m too much of a social butterfly to be one though. I totally love nerds, dorks and smartypanters. I’m the kind of person who comes up with words that don’t exist in the dictionary so being around people who appreciate my quirkiness are the types of hearts that I melt. Favorite photo shoot? My favorite photo shoot was when I did an implied boob shot for a 1952 Pontiac Cheiftan. My friend and I both modeled for classic cars that day and when we were done getting our pictures taken we ran topless across the parking lot towards the dressing room to change giggling our whole way there. It was dark so nobody could see us! Running around topless was freeing experience. Your experience with the TNTM photo shoot? My photo shoot with Dahl Baby Pinups was fun! We got to throw glitter, gems and confetti everywhere and we bought balloons for the set. I love balloons!!! It was funny watching my ears fall off every now and then. I kept thinking how would a pony pose? Haha! We played My Little Pony on the t.v. while we shot for fun!
Photo: Dahl Baby Pinups Make-up: Victoria Silva Hair and Wardrobe: Veronica Stamps
Geeky Models We Love!
Patricia Dudley Great Gatsby Shoot
Patricia Dudley Great Gatsby Shoot
Hopie from Twinzik Cosplay
Alexis Raiford Starlet and the Mobster
DOCTOR WHO Are You?
Doctor Who, the BBC television phenomenon, celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. Added to the mix of this exciting landmark year, a DW regeneration is but a few months away. “Bow ties are cool” will be replaced with new catch-phrases that fans will add to the vocabulary of quotable quotes. Along with many Whovians across the world, I waited with wonder to find out who Steven Moffat, the show’s executive producer and head writer, would announce as the next (12th) Doctor. Not everyone sported the befuddled look that stretched across my tilted face when Peter Capaldi’s name was broadcast. Capaldi may have won awards for British television and film, but in my house he was one big question mark. Who is this Peter Capaldi anyway? Born and reared in Scotland, Capaldi showed an aptitude for acting at an early age. By high school he was part of a theater troupe, and soon thereafter played guitar and was the lead singer of Dreamboys, a punk rock band. The band’s drummer was none other than Scottishborn naturalized-American late-night talk-show comic-host, Craig Ferguson. Long-standing relationship aside, Ferguson, an avid Doctor Who fan, had years before dedicated an episode of Late Night to Doctor Who, frequently asks guests if they, too, are Whovians, and has kept a TARDIS on the set-desk for years. Shortly after the announcement that Capaldi would soon become The Doctor, Ferguson tweeted, “Great news that Peter Capaldi is the new Doctor. A spectacular talent and a beautiful man.”
Capaldi’s acting talent began to be noticed in 1983 when he played Danny, a Knox Oil representative, in the British comedy-drama, Local Hero. For thirty years he has played a range of characters from George Harrison, Leonardo da Vinci and King Charles I, and everything from angel to priest. In all, I counted over sixty television shows he has played roles in, one of which ran from 2005-2012 called The Thick of It, a comedic satire about the nuances of British government. Thoughout the years he’s been acting on television, Capaldi has also been in plenty of films. He received numerous awards for In The Loop, a spin-off of the longrunning The Thick of It series. Ironically prophetic, Peter Capaldi recently played a World Health Organization (WHO) doctor in World War Z (2013). I’ve read that Capaldi wasn’t cast as Doctor Who until after WWZ, but I have to admit, it seems as though a little time lord action is involved. However, only a Whovian hiding under a rock doesn’t know that Capaldi was previously cast as a Pompeiian, Caecilius, in a 2008 episode of Doctor Who, The Fires of Pompeii. Will the writers “forget” Caecilius or has a back-story been wrapped around in this half-century of magnificence? Initially unknown to many Americans, Peter Capaldi is sure to make a believer out of even the biggest skeptic in his new role as Twelve. Don’t worry about his age; Time Lords have a way of grafting themselves into our hearts!
By Marsha Green
Image courtesy of BBC America
Geeky Halloween Costume Ideas: Jess Atkinson
1
CARL SAGAN Toss on a red turtle neck and some khaki pants and you are good to go. Cheap and it will keep your audience guessing who you are.
Carl Sagan: The Cosmos
2 AUTHUR DENT Dressing up as this classic Hitch hiker will give you the excuse to wander around in your jammies and carry a towel with you. After all, you never know when you might need your towel.
http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Arthur_Dent
3
WONDER WOMAN You probably won’t win any “most original” awards with this costume, but Wonder Woman is an absolute classic. Who wouldn’t want to be Diana, warrior princess of Themiscyra? All you need to get your Amazon on is a red tank or tube top and cobalt shorts (or stay warm in colored skinny jeans or leggings). Use fabric paint or sew craft felt onto the top to make her armor, and do the same for the white stars on the pants. Red knee-high boots are difficult to come by, so get the look by wearing red knee high socks with any red shoes that you’ve got. Cuff bracelets are popular and available for cheap at stores like Forever 21. Don’t forget to slick on a coat of classic red lipstick!
4
CASTIEL- SUPERNATURAL
Besides the Impala, Castiel’s coat is probably the most recognizable object from Supernatural. And luckily, it’s also a closet staple that you might just have on hand. Add basics like a blazer, trousers and a white blouse to get that “holy tax accountant” look, then borrow a navy tie from a guy friend. (Wings are optional.) Can be male or female costume
5
DOBBY- HARRY POTTER There aren’t any more Harry Potter midnight premieres to attend but you can still show your Hogwarts love! Pay tribute to everyone’s favorite house elf (sorry, Kreacher) with this easy costume. If you’re on the petite side, just cut holes in an old pillowcase for your arms and head. If you’d prefer to wear real clothing, a lightcolored wrap dress will work just as well. Mismatched socks are a must for this costume — the crazier the better! Finally, cut ears out of craft felt and glue them to a plain headband. It might not be an instantly recognizable outfit, but you’ll get to shout “Dobby is a free elf!” all night at everyone who asks who you’re supposed to be.
Say What? YES THEY MADE THAT. ODD INVENTIONS.
www.ecogeek.org
THE NO ENERGY FRIDGE...
Zero-Energy Bio Refrigerator Cools Your Food With Future Gel In a valiant effort to rethink the ubiquitous refrigerator — which has seen few design changes since the invention of freon refrigerators in the 1930’s — Russian designer Yuriy Dmitriev has unveiled a fresh-looking, gel-filled appliance of the future. His Bio Robot Refrigerator utilizes a special gel-like substance that suspends and cools food once inserted. Dmitriev’s design is one of 25 finalists in the Electrolux Design Lab competition, which challenged entrants with the task of redesigning modern appliances for the future. The Bio Robot Refrigerator mounts on a wall — Dmitriev points out it can be mounted horizontally, vertically or even on the ceiling. The fridge does not have a motor or other traditional technology like most refrigerators, — the gel does all the work — so, 90% of the appliance is actual usable space. To use the fridge you basically shove food into it’s biopolymer gel — which has no odor and is not sticky — and it is suspended and cooled until you need it again. Dmitriev notes that the cooling agents are the “bio robots” inherent in the gel that use luminescence — light generated in cold temperatures — to preserve food. Although this sounds super techy and fun, Dmitriev doesn’t really explain how it’s going to work, so we’re a little skeptical of the Bio Robot Refrigerator becoming a reality someday. Viability aside, the fridge is definitely a huge step forward in terms of rethinking the design of one of our most-used appliances. Probably the best thing about this concept machine is that it uses zero energy for cooling — it just needs energy for it’s little control pad. Compared to the typical modern fridge, which uses about 8% of a household’s energy, this nifty-looking gadget of the future could cut our energy use significantly.