Designed by Lucia Lorio, this fashion line is dubbed "Find Me If You Can." But how could you not find someone when they're running around with a pager-sized GPS device sewn into a bodice? While the fact that it would be impossible to not notice the gadget makes me laugh off the whole paranoia of jealous men using this as a sneaky way to keep tabs on their lovers, I still think it's a ridiculous design. Why you would spend between $1200 and $1600 for something intended to be ripped off a body. [The Age via GizmoWatch]

LuminoGlow is an Australian company that makes unmentionables that look normal with the lights on, but glow in the dark when they're turned off. Pretty neat, but don't glow in the dark items need to be left in the light for a while before they glow? Are you supposed to wear these around the house all day first just to charge them up before gametime at night? And will they glow through your clothes if you wear a thin shirt or dress?

Also, where's my glow in the dark underwear? Why do only the ladies get this fun? So many questions, so few answers.

[LuminoGlow via Newslite via The Daily What]

The brassiere is one of the award-winning bits of science and invention from this year's quirky, eccentric and downright entertaining Ig Nobel Awards. These awards are, in the words of organizer Improbable Research, a celebration of achievements that "make people laugh and think." A laundry list of past "winners" from The National reads like this:

In 2001, the physics award was given to Dr. David Schmidt for his research into why shower curtains often to blow inwards. In 2005, a team from Keio University won for "training pigeons to discriminate between the paintings of Picasso and Monet."

Dr. Deborah Anderson, also a former winner, was on hand this year to remind everyone about the effectiveness of Coca-Cola as a spermicide. To conclude, she was allowed seven words to describe her area of expertise—contraception—in detail: "Male contraception. Sheath it or beat it."

Cranking It to 11—With Science!

This year at Harvard's Sanders Theater the awards show didn't let up, with the aforementioned brassiere winning in the Public Health category. Why public health? Well, aside from providing support, the bra doubles as a life-saving gas mask; one that could be handy should a biological attack strike somewhere soon, like the unmentionables department at Macy's.

I kid, but this brassiere seriously works. Those D cups are the brainchild of the voluptuous Dr. Elena Bodnar of Illinois (by way of the Ukraine, backside pictured, above); and Raphael Lee and Sandra Marijan, both of Chicago. Bodnar passed on giving a big speech, and instead gave the audience a live demo. Her "volunteers" were a handful of Nobel laureates assembled on the stage, including Krugman. By the end of the demo, she had removed multiple bra gas masks from under her shirt and no fewer than four Nobel laureates were protected from chemical attack thanks to a hot pink layer of satin.

Brilliant Insanity Ensues

The rest of the night was, sadly, light on gadgets, but it did manage to get this cynical blogger to laugh pretty consistently.

There was a four act banker's opera (left); there were impromptu science experiments; and there were two Mexicans who managed to create diamond film from tequila. There was a researcher from Kitasato University who reduced Japanese household waste by 90% thanks to bacteria found in panda shit.

Acceptance speeches were brief, and if they weren't, an eight-year-old girl was on hand to interrupt the winners and move things along. Benoit Mandelbrot, the man who invented fractals, gave a 60-second keynote, was interrupted by the girl, and then sat down to play poker. Onstage.

All told, the event was a trip, and I encourage any of my Boston brethren to see it at Harvard next year for their 20th anniversary. If you do, then you too will know exactly what 1,000 paper airplanes descending from the rafters to pelt the stage below looks like first hand.

Editors Note: The official Ig Nobel awards video goes live soon at Improbable TV. Check it out.

When he returns to earth, astronaut Koichi Wakata is handing his underwear (boxers or briefs, I wonder) over to scientists to study how well everything held up after being worn for a month straight.

The supposed reason behind this test is to make astronauts' lives easier since there isn't a way to wash clothing in space, but I have the distinct feeling that the technology will be abused in horrible, horrible ways.

Photo by Space

[Yahoo]

I'm normally a Hander-boxers guy, but I need something more for my workouts on the iPhone Treadmill—that's where these tighty-whities shine. The Handerpants are made of 95% cotton and 5% Spandex to ensure a comfortable fit, and are a bargain at $11.95 a pair. If you still can't get enough Handerpants magic after watching the video, there is a free ringtone so you can relive the wonderment everytime you get a call.
[Handerpants via Craziest Gadgets]

The panties serve as a wind sock of sorts, as the team attaches them to a ski pole and uses wind as a guide to the North Pole, where they will measure just how thin the ice shelf is these days. They can't use a compass because of their proximity to the magnetic North Pole. GPS is apparently useless because the frigid temps freeze the equipment. The team also navigates using the sun, but when it's cloudy they pull out the lacy panties.

"Due to our proximity to the Magnetic North Pole, our compasses are currently going haywire, said navigator Ann Daniels. "The earth's strong magnetic field on this part of the ocean means that the compass needle simply spins uselessly in its housing. As such, we're currently relying on more traditional methods for day-to-day navigation, using the sun (for those few precious hours each day when it graces us with its presence), and using wind direction, as indicated by the panties…"

And no, as far as I can tell Ms. Daniels does not actually wear the panties when they're stored away and not in use.

The team's completed only 62 miles of the 700 mile journey. Those panties are going to get a workout. [Telegraph - Thanks, Matt]

And magic they certainly are, once you hear about what these space-borne underoos hope to accomplish.

Made of state-of-the-art odor-fighting fibers, they will need to reduce or eliminate smells normally associated with that area of the body for seven consecutive days. Traditionally, astronauts wear their clothing for three days before changing (see also: Me in college).

The porous panties will also wick away perspiration, provide insulation and allow Wakata to strut around the ISS bragging that his shit literally does not stink.

The underwear are also fire-resistant, which could come in handy should this strutting, odor-free astronaut cross the wrong person during his ISS stay. [Sunday Metro]

From Japan chemical company Teijin, the underwear is woven from 700-nanometer ultra fine polyester that the company calls Nanofront. Originally used for industrial polishing, the fabric is soft to the skin but apparently causes enough friction in daily tasks that, when worn as an undergarment for 40 days, can successfully lower body fat by "several percent."

Maybe it works, forcing your body to burn more calories by putting forth more effort for every movement, but I have a feeling that it feels like corduroy raping velcro every time you take a step. Seriously, your thighs will start a fire faster than Bear Grylls. [Nikkei via CrunchGear]

Samurai-themed underwear have become something of a runaway hit in Japan. Each piece is made to resemble the armor of famous Japanese samurai, such as Tokugawa shogunate founder Tokugawa Ieyasu or military hero Oda Nobunaga.

They can be found on Japanese company Sido's website, but everything is currently sold out. If you wait for them to restock, each piece will cost you about $100. [Japan Probe]

From what else I can gather from reading the blurb, Triumph is going into the household energy business. Expect to see a bunch of dome-shaped solar panels on the top of Japanese building soon. [Impress]

The team, at Wollongong University in Australia, tested two women, one 36D, the other 38DD on a treadmill at two speeds: 4.3mph; and 6.2mph. Their studies found that it was the bra straps that took the brunt of the strain, putting pressure on the women's shoulders, and leading to numbness and tingling. The jiggling (technical term is, I believe, vertical breast displacement) was as much as 2.7 inches in the case of the larger woman.

"As breast mass increases," deduced the researchers, "breast bounce momentum also increases, placing large loads on the straps and, in turn, excessive pressure on the wearer's shoulders. Apart from strap-related pain, many females, particularly large-breasted women, are restricted from participating in physical activity due to exercise-induced breast pain."

The findings are due to be published in the latest Journal of Biomechanics later this week. [Daily Mail]

A pair of collapsible chopsticks fit somewhere in between it all, almost making this bra the quintessential, patriarchal gadget of Jane Bond. But next time, we'd like to see KFC get involved for the kind of heart-stopping double entendre you can only get in America. [mainichidailynews via tokyotimes]

The quotes by the kids are the best part of this video, laced with lament and hope deeper than we could expect from youngsters: "When someone gives you a wedgie, it hurts, and when we made wedgie proof underwear, it won't hurt anymore." Cheer up kid, you'll get fewer wedgies as you age towards your nobel peace prizes for these things. Although for me and many Giz readers, I'd say this piece of engineering has come a decade or three too late. [Wedgie Proof Undies]

This tasteful $13 thong is perfect bedroom attire for any man who wants to break up with his girlfriend but doesn't want to be the dirty perp. Light the candles, fire up the Barry White, crack open the champagne and slip into this. Soon, dear reader, you will be single again - and single you will stay, once news of what you wear for sexy time gets out to the other ladies in the 'hood. A trumpeting elephant would be a different matter, though...

Product Page [Novelty Gifts via Nerd Approved]

It's "all natural," with "no rings, string, padding, or anything." It uses all your "own parts" to make your bulge as large as possible. Sounds good to us.

p.s. Ladies? You can't say we never post anything for you anymore. – Jason Chen

Aussiebum Wonderjocks [Random Good Stuff]