hypios launched its “problem to love” competition just in time for Valentine’s Day.  The contest invites researchers, scientists, engineers, innovators, social entrepreneurs, etc. to submit their unresolved and most challenging research problems (until March 14).

Two problems will be chosen out of the batch of submissions, on the basis of jury decision and popular vote, and hypios will contribute $50,000 towards solving them.  Those lucky two will then be formalized and posted on hypios’ marketplace, with solution rights going to the problem-submitter.

So you see, it’s like adding $50,000 to your research budget.  If you’ve got a fascinating problem that our network of super-Solvers should take a look at, send it our way (hold the how to survive heartbreak or how to get world peace question, though–we’re not good at solving those)!  And don’t forget to vote (early and often).

For this very special Five for Friday, see the top five problems submitted so far, at least according to this reviewer.

1. A Low Cost, Kitchen Friendly Process for Reproducing Single Copies of Printed Circuits
Joseph Bowers

Describe a low cost, safe and convenient process for reproducing single copies of potentially complex conductive patterns that can be used in the creation of electrical circuits, such that private individuals can perform this process in their kitchen with safe, commonplace, and low cost household materials. The ideal process, including the acquisition and handling of materials, or operation of equipment, should be analogous in difficulty and required expertise to baking brownies from scratch.

Because cooking-up electrical circuits in your kitchen is an important item on any DIYers’ wish list….

2. Novel Laser Technology
Anonymous

Laser technology is used everywhere: from optical storage (DVD) to ophthalmic surgery, from metal cutting to nuclear fusion simulation. One family is composed by single crystals. A. Ikesue found a way to reduce the price and to improve the effectiveness of those lasers by synthesizing transparent ceramic out of cubic materials such as Y2SiO5. The new challenge is to find a process to produce transparent ceramics out of non-cubic materials (such as YLiF4, AlN, …). Can you find it?

This sounds like a delightful challenge, and very well-posed at that.

3. A living engine for tomorrow’s cars
William Le Ferrand

We can power cars with gas or electricity, but what about imitating nature and creating an engine based on muscle fibers? Such an engine would reuse fats and carbohydrates (or directly adenosine triphosphate) to contract slow and/or fast twitch fibers and move wheels. I’d love to get a precise explanation on how muscle fibers can be grown in a laboratory, how they can be kept alive during months/years, how they regenerate and what do they need to regenerate (food, hormones).

Bio-mimicry seems a promising approach for green technologies, at least conceptually.  Not sure if this problem description is too literal, but seems worth finding out.

4. Practical electromechanical batteries
Charlie

Electromechanical batteries (see Lawrence Livermore National Labs http://bit.ly/dDcJ1K) have the potential to have an energy density far greater than those of chemical batteries. However, an obstacle is the complexity of the systems involved in the magnetic bearing used to maximise energy storage life. I’d like to see a solution, sized to passenger vehicle use, that reduces complexity & cost of manufacture at minimal expense of energy life – i.e. utilising the best “conventional” technology.

Because if biomimcry doesn’t work…there’s always “conventional” technology.

5. Technologies for s-l-o-w-i-n-g down
Anonymous

How can technology be used to help people slow down… We seek a technology solution that would trigger mindfulness and a chance to consider balance in life. This challenge could use Web 2.0, SMS or other channels to engage minds in being present and aware of what they are, not keep moving towards an impossible goal of what they want.

Maybe it’s because it’s Friday and I’ve felt particularly inundated this week  (I feel like I’m tweeting in my sleep), but reading this problem actually soothed me.  How about using those portals and pods that we’re glued to, to lower anxiety, stress.  Beta-wave inducing music is cool, what else can you think of that will impose a little Zen?

Find the rest of the problems posted here.  Consider submitting your own or just vote!

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