Top Secret: 11 Stealthiest Spy Gadgets & Tech

 

From the wannabe James Bond next door to agents of the CIA and other shadowy government entities, spies of all caliber have a wealth of incredibly stealthy technology to help them listen in on conversations, take covert video, scan faces in crowds, snatch a suspect’s DNA and destroy their own data when compromised. These 11 crazy spy gadgets, from low-tech DIY projects to top-secret experiments, will have you feeling paranoid that somebody – or something – is watching you.

#11 Robotic Roaches

(image via: engadget, popsci) Source: weburbanist.com

As if roaches, beetles and other creepy-crawlies weren’t already unwelcome in your home, you’ll be even warier of them as they gain disturbing spy capabilities thanks to the latest in cyborg tech. In 2006, Tokyo University researchers created an army of zombie cockroaches that can be directed by remote control; scientists are now taking their work one step further by using the cockroaches’ bodily functions to power the CPUs and radio components of spy devices.  Researchers have also been able to create remote-controlled cyborg beetles by attaching computer chips to the brains of the insects, equipping them with cameras and other devices.

#10 Face-Scanning Sunglasses

(images via: blue moon in her eyes) Source: weburbanist.com

Crowds at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be subjected to face-scanning software hidden in the sunglasses of police. The new technology, which consists of a small camera fitted to the glasses, can capture 400 facial images per second and transmit them to a central computer database, which can store up to 13 million faces. Working at a distance of up to 50 meters (164 feet), the devices will help law enforcement identify those involved in brawls and other illegal activity.

#9 Double Duty Pen and Weapon

(images via: benchmade.com, coolest gadgets) Source: weburbanist.com

Why carry around an ordinary pen when you could have one that could save your life, or even capture DNA from an attacker? The Benchmark 1100 Pen by Benchmade has a kubotan-style pointed weapon made of either anodized aluminum or stainless steel hidden within its body, while the Uzi tactical pen hides a ‘DNA Catcher’ in its crown, which not only injures attackers but takes a sample of their blood. Both pens also function as glass breakers.

#8 Spy Kite with Digital Camera

(images via: ohgizmo) Source: weburbanist.com

Curious about your neighbor’s land, or just want to snap some aerial photographs for more innocuous reasons? The Spy Kite by Eolo mounts a cheap digital camera to a kite with about 82 feet of string, taking photos via wireless remote. Low-tech and low-cost, the kite is not exactly CIA-worthy, but might make you think twice about any wayward kites you see hanging over your home.

#7 Peephole Reverser

(images via: spygadgets.com) Source: weburbanist.com

We install peepholes in our doors to protect ourselves, allowing us to identify anyone at the door before we open it to them. But those same peepholes can easily be used against us. A simple gadget called a peephole reverser, also known as a tactical door viewer, was developed by law enforcement, giving them a look at activity inside a dwelling without alerting anyone inside.

#6 Laser Microphone

(images via: lucid science) Source: weburbanist.com

It’s all too easy to listen to someone’s conversation using little more than a laser beam. Laser microphones use a laser beam to measure the vibration of sounds on a surface, usually glass windows, transmitting those sounds back to the listener’s receiver. DIY instructions abound on the internet, including this tutorial by Lucid Science.

#5 Spy Flies

(image via: washington post) Source: weburbanist.com

Robotic-looking dragonflies and other insects have been spotted at political events and protests in Washington and New York, hovering over antiwar rallies. While no government agency admitted to deploying the robots, the technology has been in the works for decades and some entities have admitted that they’re currently trying to perfect it. Because replicating the flying motions of a live insect tends to be inefficient, researchers may soon turn to flying cyborg insects like the beetles and roaches instead.

#4 Micro-Cameras Based on Maple Seeds

(image via: cnet) Source: weburbanist.com

Is that a maple seed spinning down toward the ground – or a covert micro-camera designed by Lockheed Martin? The defense contractor is developing a tiny camera based on the seed, which will have two tiny jet boosters to help steer it and keep it in the air. Lockheed plans to disperse them over war zones to monitor conditions, find survivors in disaster areas and even detect chemical and biological weapons.

#3 Pen-Sized Document Scanner

(image via: pcmag) Source: weburbanist.com

Need to scan a document on the sly, as quickly as possible? The Docupen by Planon is hardly bigger than a regular writing instrument, but pass it over a sheet of paper or a photograph and it will capture and store the documents, ready to be uploaded via USB or Bluetooth to any computer.

#2 Wireless Camera Disguised as a Screw

(image via: spygearco.com) Source: weburbanist.com

It’s hard not to be paranoid about amazingly tiny hidden cameras when they’re as stealthy as this. A tiny wireless camera is hidden in the head of a screw, transmitting live video to your television or recording it on a VCR. All it needs to operate is a single 9 volt battery.  These cameras are inexpensive and widely available.

#1 Self-Destructiong RAM

(image via: engadget) Source: weburbanist.com

The last thing a spy wants is to have his or her own data stolen. Going beyond encryption and biometrics, a new form of magnetoresistive RAM will render data unusable if the chip is compromised. Philips is currently developing the technology, which wraps the chips in two layers of soft magnetic foil, one of which is magnetized. The other layer acts as a “keeper” by gathering flux from a permanent magnet and maintaining a closed loop around the data. If a thief rips open the foil, the magnets erase the data.

Top Secret: 11 Stealthiest Spy Gadgets & Tech

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Top 10 Awesome Things You Can Do With Household Objects

Since man first stuck his hand in fire and proclaimed “Ugh! Uaahh!” we’ve had an unhealthy obsession with tinkering with anything we can get our hands on. More often than not, these things end poorly, like super-heated water exploding in the microwave but, every now and then, we figure out something really awesome to do. And you’d be surprised how many of these things you can do in your own home.

10. Growing Soap To More Than Ten Times Its Size

Everyone has at least one bar of soap in their house, or should at any rate. We used to think that soap was only good for two things: cleaning and military-grade shower beatings. But a lot of people don’t realize that you can take ivory soap and make it expand exponentially, simply by sticking it in the microwave.

We know what you’re thinking, and no; we didn’t just chuck shaving cream in there, and claim it was the same bar of soap. If you don’t believe us, try it for yourself or, better yet, watch this video so that you don’t have to destroy your own microwave.

Despite its foamy appearance, the whole thing is actually quite solid. It doesn’t even require time to cool.

9. Using A Newspaper As A Self-Defense Weapon

The most exciting thing you’ve probably seen someone do with newspaper is make paper-mache but, as it turns out, you can actually use a sheet of newspaper to lay a beat-down on someone. It’s a concept called the Millwall Brick, where you fold the paper in such a way as to make it dense as possible. It originated in Europe, when riots were common in soccer games. Nothing that could be used as a weapon was permitted inside, so they just figured out how to use newspapers. Antisocial psychofandom is the true mother of invention.

It got to the point where officials would actually confiscate thicker newspapers from guests trying to enter the games — because the thicker ones made better bricks.

8. Turning Playing Cards Into Ninja Stars

We already know that there are a variety of cool things you can do with cards, namely magic tricks. For those of you looking for something a little more badass, however, you can take a page out of Gambit’s book, and learn how to throw them like shuriken. Unlike Gambit’s cards, yours won’t explode on impact, but that’s why he’s out saving the world, and you’re sitting on your couch and watching him do it.

Over time, you can actually learn how to throw them very accurately, and forcefully enough to cut things. You can extinguish candles, cut bananas in half, and pierce watermelon rinds.

The following video displays a ton of these tricks being done with business cards, which also work:

7. Making a Light Show Out Of Steel Wool

Ah, steel wool– the bane of greasy pots and pans the world over. We bet you had no idea you could create a fireworks display with nothing but a handful steel wool. All you have to do is light it on fire, spin it around on a string, and keep away from anything slightly flammable.

And then proclaim that you are the Lord of Fire

Some photographers have used this effect to shoot some pretty cool time-lapse photos as well. If you want a picture of yourself with a giant sparkler, give it a shot yourself.

6. Making A Bulletproof Vest Out Of Sawdust

If you take sawdust and water, mix them together in equal amounts, and then freeze it, you’ll create a material called pykrete. Believe it or not, this material is stronger than regular ice, doesn’t shatter, and yes, it can even stop bullets. But don’t take some crazy Internet writer’s word for it. Watch it happen right before your eyes:

The pykrete didn’t let the shot travel the entire way through it (not even close, in fact,), and the ice just flat out exploded. This stuff takes forever to melt too so, if you lived in Canada, you could totally build a fortress with this stuff. It’s the same reason that people thought you could build an aircraft carrier out of the stuff back when it was first discovered. And yes, they actually tried to do that.

5. Using A Pencil As A Light

 

Imagine that your car breaks down, and leaves you stranded in the countryside at night. Maybe you know how to fix whatever is wrong, but you don’t have a flashlight and can’t see. No matter; if you have a regular pencil, you’ll easily be able to light up the night. All you need to do is run a wire from each side of your battery, to either side of a piece of pencil lead. Break the lead into fourths, and the current running through it can provide you with about twenty minutes of light, which should hopefully be more than enough time to fix whatever’s ailing your poor engine.

And if, for some reason, you don’t have a pencil, but just so happened to be chowing down on a pickle when your car gave out, that could be used as a substitute, though it’s not nearly as bright.

“We’re going hungry, but at least we can see.”

4. Turning Lemons Into An LED

You know the old saying: When life gives you lemons, make a badass flashlight (we’re not good with old sayings.) That’s right; with the proper setup, you can power an LED light with nothing but lemons. Whether it’s a few of them linked together in a circuit:

Or a frankenlemon conglomerate of prongs and coiled wires:

There’s plenty of juice (pun totally intended) to power the LED bulb. Interestingly enough, the energy isn’t coming from the lemon itself, but from a chemical reaction that occurs between the metal and the acid in the lemon. If you had the wires in a beaker of the same acid instead of a lemon, you’d still be able to power the bulb. But can’t we all agree that a power source made out of bloody lemons is far more interesting?

3. Using A Penny To Harness Electricity

We can’t tell you how to do anything dangerous with a plasma ball. That would be irresponsible. We’re also not going to tell you how, if you place a penny on top of said ball and hold a pointy, metal object close to it, you will cause the electricity to arc through the air. We can show you, but that’s about it.

Nope, not a peep from us

To reiterate: we would never tell you how that beam of electricity is hot enough to burn paper, or that you should try it yourself because of how incredibly cool it is. If you must try this though, please do be very, very cautious (and don’t mention our names.) If you get your finger too close to the coin when the plasma ball is on, the arc will jump you your finger instead. And that’s not a good day for anyone involved. But you didn’t hear that from us.

2. Making An Air Pressure Bomb Out Of Aluminium Foil And Toilet Cleaner

First of all, doing this is technically illegal since it’s technically making a bomb. We should probably get that out of the way right off the bat. And right now, a bunch of you saw the word “technically,” and your eyes are probably lighting up, just like the bomb you’re envisioning yourself making. Don’t do this yourself. Don’t tell any of your friends to do it. Don’t let the materials “happen” to fall off the counter and land in the same container either. Bad things have happened to good people.

Now then: if you “happen” to mix aluminum foil and toilet bowl cleaner in a plastic bottle, and screw the cap on, a chemical reaction begins that produces so much gas, that the bottle blows up like a balloon before it violently explodes.

It’s called a Works Bomb, because the Works toilet cleaner is most commonly used to make it. If you want to see it in action, there are roughly five bajillion videos of kids making them on the Internet, so feel free to watch one, and wonder where these kids’ parents were.

It’s very similar to that experiment everyone did in grade school, where they blew up a balloon with vinegar and baking soda. The only difference here is the sheer pressure and force, created when you try to contain a reaction ten times that size in a small area.

That’s a freaking Gatorade bottle.

1. Using Forks And Toothpicks To Defy Gravity

This one takes a bit of preparation, but the effect is mind-bending. First, you have to link two forks together with the prong ends, and stick a toothpick through the middle. Then balance them on the lip of a glass, like this:

Once you’ve done that, set fire to the part of the toothpick that is inside the lip of the glass. The toothpick will stop burning when the flame reaches the edge of the glass, because science, and you’ll wind up with something that looks like this:

Screw Lord Of Fire; now you’re a sorcerer!

It’s all about balance. When you find the perfect place for it to balance at the start, you locate its center of gravity. Burning the end of the toothpick off doesn’t affect that center of gravity at all, and the structure remains balanced.

But don’t act too surprised. You’ve all seen this before, in the form of those balancing bird toys we all had as a kid:

Source: www.toptenz.net

Top 10 Awesome Things You Can Do With Household Objects

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