Stop right there, or you'll be really, really wet. A Russian company called Special Materials, Ltd., is developing a high-powered super-soaker for riot police. The prototype device fires a half-ounce of water nearly 200 feet in only a second, and the company is hoping that future versions will be able to knock down an adult standing twenty feet away. The idea is to use the blasts of water instead of beanbags or rubber bullets, which can still cause harm. The water fans out by the time it hits its target, distributing its force over a wider area. This makes it less likely to cause serious damage, strengthening the "non" in non-lethal weapons.—Gregory Mone

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The 6th annual Invention Awards are here, from an inflatable tourniquet to a better lobster trap to spring-loaded hocket skates. This issue is all about the celebration of invention.
Plus: Making synthetic biology breakthroughs in a garage, building a constantly-moving ping-pong table, and a ridiculously overpowered barbecue.