10 Graphene Gadgets We’re Dreaming Of (You’ll Want Them All)

Apr 20, 2014

WTF is “graphene,” you ask? It’s a form of carbon with specs that make it sound like we’re describing a superhero: It’s 200 times stronger than steel, so small an ounce can cover 28 football fields, so light a cubic inch of it can land on a blade of grass without bending it. It’s also super cheap, mega malleable and can conduct heat and electricity all while resisting damage when submerged in water.

Oh, now you’re saying WTF for a totally different reason. Well so is the tech world, because that little transparent material is about to change everything — from the way our go-to gadgets look and feel to the way those devices interact with our bods. We dreamed up 10 pieces of tech on our future wish list that might just be possible with a little help from graphene.

1. An Unbreakable Smartphone: Let’s start with a basic need. If you have a smartphone, you’ve probably dropped or damaged that smartphone making you feel, well, not-so-smart. Since we’re talking about a material that’s stronger than steel and resistant to water, we’re envisioning a lightweight phone you could hurl into a pool… and only worry that you might interrupt someone doing laps. (Photo)

2. Smartphone as Smoke Detector: Graphene is already being used in experiments to build gas sensors so what if a piece of your phone (think modular, like Project Ara!) would detect and alert you if there was carbon monoxide or another noxious substance in the air. Sorry, Nest, we might not need you when our phone can do your job for you…

3. Bookmark-Sized E-Reader: Experts speculate graphene could be used to make paper-thin gadgets — so how about an e-reader the size of a piece of paper? It could even roll up to the size of a pencil when you’re on the go. (Photo)

4. Bouncy GoPro: Remember Weebles? They were plastic toys that wobbled but didn’t fall over. Graphene is pliable like rubber and can be clear so what if you could embed a camera into it and have an action cam as unbreakable as our smartphone (pls see above) to capture any shot you rolled its way.

5. Reeeeally Wearable Gym Clothing: Sure, sure, graphene could easily find its way on the scene in flexible custom wearables, but let’s take that idea a step farther. We’re not just talking bands that are water resistant, flexible and custom-fit to your wrist (although, yes, those too) we’re imagining gym clothes, shoes and accessories that track your performance as you go the distance.

6. E-Invitations: Oh, not the kind you’re thinking of. If you could make paper-thin gadgets on the cheap, what about reworking the idea of “paperless post” with an interactive invitation you could mail, then have the receiver craft and upload their RSVP to send back. Just spit balling here, guys!

7. Swimmables: Graphene is water resistant and doesn’t oxidize when submerged in liquid so it could be the material of choice for any tech (whether waterproof speakers or lap trackers) that might go for a swim or just hang out by the beach.

8. Charger-less Computers and Cells: Okay, not charger-less for life, but at least when you leave the house. Even if you’re leaving it for a week-long vacay. Researchers at Northwestern University made a cellphone battery using graphene and silicon that lasted over a week on a single charge. AND it only took 15 minutes to juice up. Sign us up yesterday. Or ten years from now.

9. Wearables That Tuck You in: Graphene can interact with your body’s biological systems, so we’re imagining a wearable that could turn off your devices for you — like that Netflix/FitBit hack, but once it senses you’re falling asleep every device in your home responds. The thermostat reaches your ideal sleeping temperature, your gadgets go to “off,” the light in the bathroom dims on, your TV turns off… and your coffee machine starts when you start stirring in the AM. (Photo)

10. Cases That Act as Chargers: Imagine electric cars crafted with bodies that both protect it and act as solar panels to charge it — this is something carmakers are already exploring with graphene making up the body, natch. An idea like this could be extended to devices like smartphones and laptops, of course, but what about a fold-up grill that could get you fired up at your future picnic?

Bonus/Personal Request – Headphones That Never Die: As a runner I’m always refilling my headphone supply because sweat (ew, but true) gets inside and ultimately messes up my jock jams. From what I deduce, graphene buds would be lightweight, water resistant and pretty freaking durable. Most of the above probably won’t happen for quite some time. Surely I can get this sooner? Yay? Nay?

Any electronic you can use, could eventually be made better with graphene — what could you imagine it being used to create or enhance?

(h/t: The New York Times)

Not Close With Your Family? Here's How To Have a Joyous And Connected Holiday Season

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

Zach Bryan & Brianna Chickenfry's Break Up Is COMPLICATED — Here's What To Know

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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