"TOY OF THE YEAR" - Rolling Stone - December 10, 2009 •
"PAYMENT FOR ADDICTION THERAPY NOT INCLUDED" - Real Simple - December 2009 •
"MUCH MORE SATISFYING THAN A STRESS BALL" - Entertainment Weekly - December 4, 2009 •
"#26 THINGS WE WANT" - Wired - December 2009 •
"THERE’S NO BETTER DESK TOY" - Esquire - December 2009 •
"THE NEW RUBIK’S CUBE" - Good Morning Texas - November 17, 2009

BuckyBalls?!? What’s in a Name?

A few years ago, scientists made a breakthrough called buckminsterfullerene, or the buckyball that could revolutionize the world of chemistry. This molecule has scientists the world over scrambling to find new and unusual uses for this unique molecular oddity.

Buckminsterfullerene is a tribute to the designer of the geodesic dome, R. Buckminster Fuller. Fuller pioneered architecture by creating such domes, known for their lightness, strength, and characteristic shape. Epcot Center in Walt Disney World, Florida, is arguably the most notable geodesic dome structure.

How strong is it? Robert Whetten of the University of California at Los Angeles states, "[the buckyball] is resilient beyond any particle that's been known," having sustained no damage after being hurtled at a stainless steel plate at 15,000 mph. In addition, the buckyball's compressibility up to seventy percent of its original volume might tend to create a new type of shock absorber. The buckyballs could also be compressed and held, which could take the place of industrial diamonds, as a compressed buckyball is at least twice as rigid as diamond.

Whoa.

Fun Facts!

Developed in the 1970s and 80s, rare-earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets made.

Interest in rare earth compounds as permanent magnets began in 1966, when K. J. Strnat and G. Hoffer of the US Air Force Materials Laboratory discovered that YCo₅ had by far the largest magnetic anisotropy constant of any material then known.

Neodymium magnets, invented in the 1980s, are the strongest and most affordable type of rare-earthmagnet. Neodymium alloy (Nd₂Fe₁₄B) is made of neodymium, iron and boron.

How do they come up with this stuff??

Jake Bronstein and Kristina Hoge, his silly-loving fiancee, hit a tourist spot in Asheville, N.C., where a bowl of magnets entranced her as perfect for their coffee table. He thought them a little pricey.

But his mission for his lady became clear: How would he get Hoge her bowl of magnets?