Here's What's Awesome: Useless Superpowers, Useful Seeing Machine

In weather this cold, lesser columns might freeze up, unable to withstand the harsh climate. But we're lucky - Here's What's Awesome is powered by awesome links, and as such is comfort-rated even in extreme temperatures.

Does "super blogging" fit?
A funny comic with a fun premise, superuseless superpowers looks at super powers that just wouldn't be much help in fighting crime, or just getting through the day, like "in-flight flight" ("this so-called power lets you fly, but only within the confines of an airplane") or "helium resistance" ("as this man courageously inhales helium, there is no effect on the timbre of his voice") [Neatorama]

We were eyeball to eyeball, and the other machine just blinked
In stark contrast to the item above, the seeing machine is all about being useful to people with visual impairments. This particular prototype does what diagnostic seeing machines have done for some time, bypassing the impairment and transmitting images directly to the retina. But by using smaller and less expensive parts, seeing machines might be affordable to individuals, who can use them not for testing but for reading or web surfing. [MIT]

Does your insulin lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
And here we thought those with diabetes had to watch their intake of sweets: a team at Syracuse University says chewing gum might be a more efficient way to get insulin into the bloodstream than pill form. The insulin is bonded to vitamin B12, that, plus the saliva generated by the chewing, keeps more of the insulin intact as it passes through the digestive system. [New Scientist]

Now it's your turn. Share an awesome link in the comments field - you'll feel that much warmer when you do.

(Photo by silverman)