By Evan Ackerman

Want to know where the whole dog versus cat thing got started? I’ll tell you: allergies. Dogs are allergic to cats. Think about it, it makes so much sense, especially for us humans who also have cat allergies. Allergies turn you in to a crazy feral beast who sneezes. The solution to this, obviously, is to get your dog a personal ionic air purifier, which will virtually guarantee harmony with all other animal species. But wait, there’s more.

In addition to cleaning the air that your pet breathes in, the purifier will also “instantly neutralize smells,” a feature which I’m sure all dogs will appreciate. And if they’d rather not have one of their senses denozzified, you can pop in preloaded “scent cartridges” which are “available in many different scents to relax, calm, soothe & energize your pets.” Brilliant, brilliant I say.

The mini wearable ionizer air purifier for pets is a fabulous value at only $17.20.

[ Uxsight ] VIA [ Techchee ]

By Evan Ackerman

Yes, this fishbowl leaks. No, don’t send it back, it’s supposed to do that. There’s a hole in the side that continually spills water into an understandably thirsty fish at the base, where it’s cleaned and recycled back into the bowl. Some kind of filter apparatus keeps the fish from getting out, however much an array of color changing LEDs in the bottom of the bowl may drive them to suicide. I imagine that the water coming out of the bowl probably has a decidedly fishy aroma, but mabe that’s something that you’re looking for, you know, to lend a little bit of oceanic atmosphere to your life.

The Spillarium holds 5 gallons of water, and comes with “artificial fish” and “artificial plants.” And, for some reason, a real net and some real fish food. It’s $130 at Hammacher Schlemmeleakybowl.

[ Spillarium ] VIA [ Coolest Gadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

In addition to new 135 degree wide angle lens models and a 720P ‘HD’ version of their camera-equipped scuba masks, Liquid Image has also unveiled snow and swim goggle versions of their products just in time for CES 2010. The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle model 335 has a 5MP still camera that can also capture D1 resolution video (720×480) to its 16MB of built-in flash memory. (Which can mercifully be expanded to 16GB thanks to a microSD/SDHC card slot.) It’s also got oversized glove-friendly mode and shutter buttons on the side of the frame as well as a set of LED lights inside the goggles to indicate when it’s recording. (Available late Summer 2010.)

What’s even more impressive is the company’s new Freestyle Series Swim Camera Goggle model 330. While it’s only got a 1.3MP camera that can also capture VGA resolution videos (640×480) the whole unit is barely larger than a regular pair of swim goggles. And unlike the Snow Camera Goggles, the swim model has a healthy 4GB of built-in memory which is good for about 90 minutes of video, while the rechargeable lithium battery that should last just as long. (Available April 2010.)

[ Liquid Image ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’re looking for a new way to justify that $1,000+ DSLR you just bought, and have run out of objects to stick in front of your macro lens, you might want to give Kirlian photography a shot. It uses high voltage applied to everyday objects to create unique exposures of the corona discharge, and thanks to this $295 Kirlian Imaging Device you don’t need a mad scientist-esque laboratory to make them!

Now normally an exposure is created by placing a piece of sheet film on the metal discharge plate, but since you probably bought your DSLR so you wouldn’t have to get film developed anymore, there’s also an optional $129.95 transparent discharge plate that allows you to take photographs using your digital camera. The whole setup looks reasonably safe, though it’s cautioned that you’ll need to deal with a ground wire if you’re photographing inanimate objects, which leads me to wonder what living creatures this could actually be used with.

[ Kirlian High Voltage Imaging Device ] VIA [ Random Good Stuff ]