Gizmodo: wool

Modified New Zealand Wool Resists Blowtorches, Dog Bites, Sharp Knives

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:15:00 EDT

Call it cliche (or just inevitable), but those sheep-herders down not-quite under have created the ultimate fabric by weaving a synthetic textile fiber called Vectran with ordinary sheep's wool. It's so amazing, its said to withstand blowtorches, dog bites and even knife attacks.

"We have tested it...putting the fabric over a cushion. With a screwdriver or something, using two hands and all your force, it won't go through," Dr. Peter Ingham, a scientist at New Zealand's AgResearch government lab, told reporters. "A very sharp knife with the fabric horizontally on a benchtop, using two hands and all your force—it will go through. It will penetrate a little bit," he said, adding. "This is, if you like, stab resistant," he said.

Now that's a turtleneck sweater I can get behind. [SBS World News Australia]

Knitted Gas Mask Helps Cyclists Avoid Cotton-Wool Smog

AddyDugdale — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:00:04 EST

For those who are about to knit, we salute you—especially if you make woolly hat 'n' gas mask combos for your friends to wear on their bike ride to work. Not sure whether it would work in the event of a mustard gas attack, but it works for me. File this alongside the R2-D2 beanie and Darth Vader bonnet and see the full-frontal below.

[Craftster via BoingBoing]

Soft Mouse Concept Looks Turgid, Feels Flaccid

Jason Chen — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EDT

This wool felt and laminated bamboo ply mouse is soft and ergonomic the same way that a brick is not. Instead of being angled and curve and rounded to fit exactly to your hand (when in the claw position), it's box-shaped and conforms when you squeeze down on it. It's unclear why the designer made the right mouse button so much smaller than the left, but we're glad there's still room for that laser sight on the bottom. ~~How this thing is going to charge is beyond our puny understanding of physics.~~ You charge it by removing the bottom layer and replacing the batteries. [Joey Roth via Yanko Design]