Anty-Climax

It might not be quite up there with curing cancer or developing alternative energy systems, but scientists from the Women’s University in Tokyo might very well have improved the lives of astronauts (and their colleagues) with the invention of stink-free underwear.

In case you're wondering what would inspire French-Swiss artist Guillaume Reymond to fill a cinema with men (and I think I saw a woman) in brandless t-shirts to create this large-scale recreation of iconic video game Pac-Man, unfortunately, I don't know either. But I don't care! If this clip doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you'll never embrace the only true universal language; Geek.

Devilfish, an ad agency that specialises in cutting-edge campaigns, was tasked by Sky One to come up with a TV spot that communicated to viewers the network was the UK's home for "The Simpsons." This is the result. Makes one wonder what a live-action "Simpsons" commercial would look like were it done for an Australian client. What iconic elements of Ozness would have to be in it?

Frustration with tardy debtors was the obvious impetus behind this nifty invention from Belgium outfit ikki; an invoice with a voice-chip that begins to make weeping noises 20 seconds after the envelope is opened. But what's truly inventive about the 'crying invoice' is its other purpose.

Confectionery brand Skittles has already infiltrated the pantheon of unforgettable tag-lines with its 'Taste the Rainbow' slogan. In this nifty 'made-for-YouTube' series of clips, viewers are asked to 'Touch the rainbow'. The concept is simple, novel and we challenge you to not hunger for a Skittle once this "cute but weird kitty cat" has its way with you.

The 'interwebs' are filled with commercials proudly and boldy described as 'banned'. There is almost no better link bait (he writes shamelessly aware of this very post's title). We all know this intuitively. But now digital technology can not only be used to provide proof. It can be used to create a commercial justification.

Commander Chris Hadfield used social media to get the world interested in space again. Today he returns to Earth after five months in space. He returns a great astronaut and, an epic content marketer.

Isn't it always wonderful when something you had almost forgotten you'd bought turns up in your letterbox? That's right, my Pebble has finally arrived!

Our friends at Pollenizer, which has emerged as the fertile hub of Sydney's happening web startup scene, have launched a great new initiative to showcase the hive of activity that is Pollenizer HQ in Surrey Hills. On Fridays (starting two weeks ago), Mick Liubinskas thrusts his Flip camera in the face of colleagues and connected entrepreneurs, inviting them to share a little about the projects they're working on.

New York University grad student Adam Harvey has invented an "Anti Paparazzi" device that detects the camera flash from one or more photographers and returns a flash almost instantaneously, ruining the shot.

In a development that's unlikely to be nearly as amusing as a toilet flush simulator, iPhone is losing ground to its competitors, likely to heighten rivalry between hardware and app developers alike. We've already seen how an almighty stink can arise over iPhone app developers. Take the case of Pull My Finger versus iFart.

From the wonderfully verdant mind of entrepreneurial illustrator Hugh MacLeod, author of Ignore Everybody (listed among Amazon's Top 10 Editor's Picks for Best Business Books 2009), comes this print worthy of hanging on any entrepreneur's wall.

Income inequality is increasing in Australia: the wealthy are getting richer and the poorest 50 per cent of the population are increasingly struggling– a trend that has continued for nearly 30 years.

If you're not sure where you're going, chances are, you pull out your smart phone. Within a few simple taps, you know where you are,...

All gifts can be presented (pun intended) at Anthill HQ. If you're stuck for ideas of what to get me, here's a suggestion. It looks like a lamp, but it's so much more. It's Lamp, with a capital L. It has a name and a personality of all its own.

You might remember a great marketing video by US creative agency BooneOakley we posted on Anthill TV a couple of months ago. At the time, we held it up as a model for how to market yourself online. Well that video spread across the globe like, well, a virus. In fact, it has worked so well for BooneOakley that they took the interesting step of making their homepage - www.booneoakley.com - redirect to the video's YouTube page. The YouTube video is designed like a web page and contains clickable links that take you to other videos by the team (portfolio work, news & bios, contact details).

Sing the headline in your best falsetto Bee Gees voice. How deep is your love for your smart phone?

According to a report in the New York Times, Swedish entrepreneur Anders Wilhelmson has developed and tested a biodegradable plastic bag that acts as a single-use toilet for urban slums in the developing world. The Peepoo can be buried after use, where a layer of urea crystals kills off pathogens that produce disease and converts the waste into fertilizer.

This is a clever and fearless dog. He has learned to do things that many dogs cannot do. See. Right there. Those are things Jumpy the dog can teach every entrepreneur.

Anthill 30under30 winner Marita Cheng will be busting some serious moves next Tuesday when she will attempt, along with fellow members of Robogals, to beat the Guiness World Record for 'robot-dancing'. While the record currently stands at 276, Robogals (a student group that was initially created by University of Melbourne students to encourage the entry of women into science, engineering and technology careers) has already attracted over 400 confirmed registrations on Facebook.