Top 10 Weirdest Tech Stories of All Time

Quantum batteries. Blockchain. The Internet of Things.

Those are just a few of the new technologies which have made headlines over the past few years. These new technologies have practical, everyday uses in a plethora of industries. They’re not even a little strange to most of us.

And then there are those new innovations and tech stories that are… beyond bizarre.

Touching robots. Battle bots. Tiny robots that follow you around like poodles.

Batteries you can eat.

If you think these inventions came right out of a science fiction novel, you’re wrong. They’re real–or at the very least, currently in development.

Interested in finding out more about these weird inventions? Keep reading.

1. Arousing Robots

Human arousal is a peculiar thing. There’s just no mathematical way of calculating how arousing an experience will be.

One thing, however, is certain:

People sure do like touching regions we deem “private.” And as it turns out, even touching a robot’s private areas is enough to arouse us.

A group of researchers has already proven it. These researchers conducted an experiment in which human participants were asked to touch robots’ privates. The experience aroused these participants over 90 percent of the time.

Not sure what to say about that? Well, neither are we…

2. Google’s Human Flypaper

Billions of people rely on their vehicles to get from point A to B every single day. Unfortunately, driving around metal boxes which weigh thousands of pounds comes with one major drawback:

Vehicles are a serious hazard to pedestrians at times. One hit from a car or truck is enough to end someone’s life.

Apparently, this problem is so concerning that Google has started developing human flypaper. This flypaper–humanpaper?–is designed to fit the front of a car. If a human were to make contact with it, he or she would stick to the paper instead of rolling underneath the vehicle.

Of course, Google is only developing this paper for self-driving cars at the moment. And that definitely raises questions about how good at driving these self-driving cars really are.

3. Bye Bye Robo Calls

IT services have become a big deal. Everyone wants his or her information to be safe, whether that info is being transferred via a phone call or an email.

For this Reason, the FCC has put together the aptly named Robocall Strike Force. The force’s overall goal is to prevent fraudsters from using robo calls to scam people out of money.

And it’s working. The force’s efforts led to a 90 percent reduction in consumer complaints about these fraudulent calls.

Oh, and if you’re interested in finding out more about those IT services people are relying on today, check out Paranet. They’ve provided a quick rundown of some basic services which you can view here.

4. Night of the Living Dead

The idea of living long enough to see the rise of the zombie apocalypse terrifies most of us. Unfortunately, some recent scientific endeavors are proving that the night of the living dead might be a reality.

Well…not exactly.

Researchers have started looking for ways to regenerate the brains of the clinically deceased. And by “clinically deceased,” we mean brain-dead.

If successful, this experiment would open up several new doors for patients whom doctors have deemed brain-dead. These patients would no longer require life support, which would take huge mental, emotional, and financial loads off of their families’ shoulders.

5. Gita the Porter Bot

We’ve examined some pretty weird fashion trends around these parts. From destroyed sneakers to car mat skirts, there’s nothing people haven’t tried these days.

Save for Gita the porter bot, that is.

Gita is Piaggio’s new brainchild. It’s a small robot which lugs around your personal items.

Some people have described the little robot as fashionable. And they’re not wrong. Gita is colorful, compact, and somehow completes trendy looks.

Still, there’s something strange about a small robot following you around like lap dog. The things people do for fashion.

6. Edible Batteries

Pizza. Chocolate. Pancakes. We could go for a bite of one of those foods right about now.

But here’s something we’re not craving:

Edible batteries.

That’s right. Edible batteries are now a thing, and some researchers are pondering their medicinal uses.

These researchers envision a future in which patients take digital pills which contain these edible batteries. The goal is to get patients’ stomach acid to power the batteries.

7. Eargasmic Earbuds

What’s your favorite song? And how much do you enjoy listening to that song?

Regardless of your answer here, you’re not going to need your favorite song for much longer. Because you’ll be able to pop in a pair of Nervana earbuds to obtain that perfect serenity you crave.

These earbuds hit the market in 2016, promising to deliver a “high.” The earbuds try to make good on this promise by stimulating nerves in your ear canal. That stimulation triggers the release of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.

8. iUrn the Cremation App

Mourning the death of a loved one is never easy, but iUrn is hoping to make the grieving process easier.

Or at least most more manageable.

This cremation app lets you turn loved ones’ ashes into indoor plants. You can then monitor the growth of these plants via the app.

9. The Real Iron Giant

Giant battle bots are one of humanity’s most recent gifts to itself.

Yep. A few engineers are currently building huge robots that will do battle with each other. These bots are fifteen-feet tall and can house human pilots.

These iron giants look as if they came right out of an iteration of “Gundam” or “Pacific Rim.” Which means us science fiction buffs are finally going to get to live out our dreams.

10. Any-Which-Way Wheels

It’s official:

Goodyear has decided that standard tires just aren’t cutting it. So the company has developed the tire of the future: the spherical tire.

This tire would allow drivers to move their cars any which way. And quite honestly, we’re not sure that the spherical tire is such a great idea. Some of us have way too much road rage to have that much freedom on the road.

Today’s Tech Stories Just Keep Getting Stranger

And we’re not sure what to make of them. But hey, wacky tech stories like these keep us entertained.

Until, of course, some other weirdness catches our attention.

Looking for more weird stories and trends? Take a look at our collection of some of today’s most popular weirdness. You won’t regret it.

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