Five crazy inventions you never knew you needed

From a self-powered butt kicker to a one person see-saw, these are some of the craziest inventions hidden away in the Google Patents library.

23 February 2022

Technology

Diving through lava rock in the Canaries

Diving into La Palma's underwater lava world

A volcano devastated the shores of Canary Island's La Palma but divers find new life flourishing underwater.

The Travel Show

Sports betting is now everywhere. Is that dangerous?

Katty Kay speaks with author Michael Lewis about the rise of phone-based sports betting.

Sport

Wall Street muted at the end of tumultuous week

Noah Hamman, CEO of AdvisorShares, says more volatility in markets is expected in the short term.

Opening Bell

Es Devlin's powerful art invites a closer look at strangers

Through intimate encounters with 50 Londoners, influential artist Es Devlin reimagines how we see home.

Arts in Motion

The gadgets set to change your daily health check‑ups

The gadgets set to change your daily health and wellness

Tech Now test out new gadgets disrupting the health industry at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

Tech Now

Inside the search for South America's most cryptic bird

A small country, a rare bird: inside Uruguay’s most haunting discovery

Discover the World

US futures slide as tariff fears trigger sell‑off

US stocks are opening sharply lower, amid an ongoing sell-off in Europe for fears of a trade war over Greenland.

Opening Bell

Morocco fossil finds re-write the origins of our species

The groundbreaking fossil finds reveal how Homo sapiens are 100,000 years older than previously believed.

Humans

Arnold Schwarzenegger goes big on Christmas

Chris Pratt talks about this year's unique present from Arnold Schwarzenegger that will be hard to re-gift.

Film & TV

Lina Ghotmeh on crafting the future from the past

Architect Lina Ghotmeh brings her vision to an ambitious project, redesigning the British Museum's Western Range.

Arts in Motion

Karl Ove Knausgård: The writer who broke the rules

The Norwegian author's raw honesty and fearlessness has made him one of literature's most compelling voices.

Arts in Motion

Can we prepare for the impact of melting glaciers?

The lab recreating melting glaciers to forecast sea levels

Tech Now visits a Wisconsin lab where scientists model how glaciers melt to better predict sea‑level rise.

Tech Now

Goldman Sachs' and Morgan Stanley's results beat expectation

Early indications from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan suggest consumers are continuing to spend.

Opening Bell

Why Atlanta's culinary scene is getting food lovers excited

The city's food scene is redefining southern hospitality with bold and unpretentious global flavours.

World's Table

Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi speaks to the BBC

Acclaimed director Jafar Panahi tells the BBC he sees his films as a historical memory of the realities in Iran.

Film & TV

The undersea mountains where sharks rule

Under the surface of the ocean, 100,000 towering mountains dot the Earth. Their violent currents are key to life.

Earth

Dollar weakens following probe into Fed Chair Powell

Expert says probe into Fed chair is 'political theatre'

Investment expert Glen Smith says the pressure on Fed chair Jerome Powell is all about 'political theatre.'

Opening Bell

What's it like to meet your own avatar?

Musician KT Tunstall meets her avatar as Tech Now explores music’s virtual future.

Tech Now

A simple stargazing ritual to reset stress

Dark-sky retreats are on the rise, offering nights under dazzling skies to boost calm, clarity, and wonder.

Science & Health

Trump expects huge investment in Venezuela

Former Venezuelan minister says firms will not invest without democratic legitimacy.

Opening Bell