Overly Complicated Invention #413

Non-Newtonian Bullets.

First, an introduction. Non-Newtonian fluids are liquids that behave in a very peculiar way. Namely, they have non-constant viscosity.

One of the most famous examples of this is Oobleck, a mixture of corn starch and water (dry it at home!). Oobleck gets harder the more force is applied. So if you stab it or slap it, it becomes rigid, but if the force is gentle you can sink your hand in it. For instance, you can run across it if you go fast enough. Or, if pressure keeps being applied, it will build up. Kinda.

So, lets have a thought experiment.

What would happen if a burst of Oobleck was shot at high speed from a pressurised device? The initial decompression would harden the rear of the shot of the liquid, expelling it from the barrel, at which point it would probably return to liquid state. However, when hitting the target, it will re-harden in an unpredictable shape, and then re-liquefy when its transferred the kinetic energy.

Theoretically, this leads to strange shaped bullet wounds, and un-traceable ammunition.

And I, of course, am talking out my arse as I know nothing about physics. Still, it's an intriguing thought...

Overly complicated invention #73

A Bluetooth meat thermometer.

Now, hear me out with this one. If you've ever tried to make a roast, and get it that wonderful medium rare pink colour, you know just how important temperatures is. You want the roast to hit just the right temp, and then grab that thing out of the oven before it becomes the texture of an elderly Floridean. So, are you going to spend three hours watching your oven like a hawk, waiting for the needle to hit the magic spot, or for the little red button to pop up? Hell no!

Instead, a bluetooth thermometer!

You set the meat type and how well done you want it. Say, lamb roast, rare. Jab it in the thickest part of the meat, and walk away. As soon as it hits the right temperature (which will be stored in the thermometer's memory) it sends you a text message. You hustle over, and pull your perfectly cooked roast out of the oven.

Of course, the electronics would have to be heat shielded, but still...