Gizmodo: smooth

Sex Alert Announces When You're Having Sex, Which is Never

Adam Frucci — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST

Everybody had a method in college to warn their roommates to stay the hell away when you were lucky enough to con someone into coming home with you. Be it a sock on the doorknob, shoes outside the door or a gigantic X on your whiteboard, it had to be clear enough to get the message across without looking sleazy to your new friend. This Sex Alarm doesn't aim for such subtlety. You hang it on your doorknob, and if anyone approaches it yells out that someone is having sex inside. Which you then won't be, you creep. Way to screw it up in the home stretch. [Product Page via Nerd Approved]

Scientists Create Smoothest Mirror Surface Ever

Kit Eaton — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:15:00 EDT

A team at the Autonomous University of Madrid have created what they're calling the smoothest mirror surface ever made. It's flat down to the size scales of individual lead atoms, and was made by depositing lead onto silicon crystal at freakish temperatures of -173 to -133°C. This messes with the quantum properties of electrons in the lead and lets it settle without bunching up as it's warmed up. It's not shiny, or for checking out your hair-do though: the intention is to bend the compound mirror into a convex shape for use in a helium ion microscope. This'll work in similar ways and with similar magnification to an electron microscope, focusing helium ions instead of electrons, which don't damage delicate biological samples. The team's next task is to tackle the bending part. Smooth work, guys. [New Scientist]

Pick Up Line Generator: Worry Not Awkward Geeks, Gadgets Can Get You Laid

Sean Fallon — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:00:33 EST

As you know, nothing gets a woman hotter than a really cheesy pick-up line. Or better yet, a really cheesy and wildly inappropriate line—"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought that was a Braille name tag" for example. Fortunately, even the shy awkward geek can get in on the action thanks to our good old friend the gadget.

The Pick-up Line Generator features 40 of the world's "most effective" pick-up lines, including gems like: "Is it hot in here, or is it just you?" As ridiculous as that is, the manufacturers stress that volume is the key to success here: "for all those that roll their eyes and walk away (and later you'll be glad they did), there's just as many who will have a laugh, then stay and chat." All you need to do is head to a quiet corner and consult your pocket-sized generator for a little advice, and the babes should roll right in. Somehow I find that hard to believe, but if you have actually used a pick up line that worked, leave it in the comments. Available for $19.95. [Product Page via TRFJ]