Chances are, your understanding of science is largely dictated by movies.  Unless of course you wear a white lab coat and a pair of glasses.  Case in point, the Hover Board from “Back to the Future 2″.  This particular piece of movie magic, which has been referenced more than a handful of times in the last few months thanks to a variety of magnetically floating objects, such the Light Light and that magnet that floated through a cooper tube, is theoretically viable but not really doable in really world terms.  Or is it?

What this video depicts is something called Quantum Levitation.  Don’t ask us, because we really don’t know how it works.  However, we can tell you that what you’re about to see doesn’t seem to include any special effects or strings.  The puck sized device floats – the science student says otherwise – above a metal tray and “locks” into place.  It’s a bit hard to describe so we suggest you just watch the video.  But if you watch closely, the puck doesn’t really float as much as it just sits there, fixed in mid air.   Later in the video its placed on a metal disc and with a slight push rotates effortlessly in circles.  It’s a stunning effect, though replicating this at home might take some seriously expensive equipment, and even then it might not get you laid.

If you’ve hammered a nail, then you’ve also hammered a finger nail.  The problem lies in the fact in the infrequency in which this activity is performed, unlike professional workers who repeat this motion hour after hour for weeks on end.  And mind you those folks have also destroyed whatever nerve endings their fingers tips may have once contained, so its all rather moot when and if they smash their flanges with a 7lb piece of steel.

The ThumbSaver TS001 Magnetic Nail Setter appears to be an ingenious tool.  We say “appears” because we havent’ tested it and chances are it could slow the processes of hammering and nailing to a grueling pace that might render it almost useless.  But putting aside that one potential caveat, this handy device pretty much insures that you won’t destroy your fingers by hammering them into oblivion.

The tip contains a magnet, which is designed to hold virtually any fastener in place so you don’t have to.  Instead you’ll grip the rubber handle, which is wrapped around a durable solid aluminum shaft which is embedded with the aforementioned magnet.  The applications are virtually limitless as it can hold tiny staples, tacks, picture hanging hardware, or finishing nails – all the fiddly fasteners that are sure to result in you smashing your finger nails.

At $12.99 from Amazon it seems like a steal, especially seeing as that will probably be equitable to the yearly cost of bandaids and pain relievers.

Sometimes brilliance comes in the most simplest of forms.  The Magnetic Light Switch Cover really needs no explanation, but for the sake of posterity (and driving some traffic to this post by way of a search engine), we’ll provide one.  It’s a standard sized (USA) light switch cover that incorporates a high powered magnet.  So it’s logical, right?  The first thing you do when you enter your home is flip on the light switch.  Next you toss down your keys.  Rarely would you do that in reverse order.  But how often do you lose your keys because you don’t make a mental note as to where you placed them?  Now with the magnetic light switch cover they’ll be in the same place again and again.  However, this style of light switch is pretty old school, but if you’re rocking those in your home you can grab this handy device for $24.95.

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Dynamo powered lights have been around almost as long as the bicycle has had gears.  One problem?  Most if not all of them had to make physical contact with a spinning wheel to be powered, that is until now.  Enter the Magtenlight.  It uses the same dynamo tech, but instead of a physical spinning apparatus it uses 28 magnets attached to the bike’s spokes.  As they pass by the dynamo, power is generated and the included lights are lit.  No physical contact, no friction, no slow down.

Two lights are included and rated at 15 lux a piece, that is assuming you’re traveling at about 9mph.  A small on board capacitor or battery stores additional juice for up to 4 minutes when you pause or brake at stop lights and stop signs.

[via Inhabitat]

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Figure it out yet?  This is a key rack that has a magnet hidden beneath its wooden exterior.  I think it’s a concept only, which I usually shy away from, but the idea is so close to reality I really want one in my entrance way.  Course, you have to wonder what kind of weight it can support.  Making one should be a relatively easy proposition.

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70-inch flat screen still not impressing your friends?  Try out the Magentic Floating Revolving 18-LED Beer Display.  Using the magic of magnets this device will actually suspend your beer of choice, or any metal capped beverage that doesn’t weigh more than 580g, in mid air.  And if that isn’t enough it will rotate the beer 360 degrees over 18-LED lights to show off your precious beer in all its bubbly glory.

You can snag one for $95 from our friend’s at Dealextreme, who I can only hope are chugging down an endless amount of Mountain Dew in the hopes of maintaining their extremeness.

[via Nerdapproved]

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Sure, I could use my iPhone’s calendar to plan my day, but that wouldn’t be nearly as fun as the Magnet Clock.  Just stick the clock to your fridge and arrange the iconic chips in accordance to what time you want to perform that activity.  I’m particularly fond of the humping stick figures.  What about you?

As of right now the Magnet Clock appears to be conceptual only, but hopefully its designer, Designplus, well send it to production.

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