Cool Gadgets, Gift Ideas, and Awesome Stuff

Nordischsound shows how the synth-heavy sounds of Depeche Mode are perfectly suited to playback on an 8-bit computer. Using just the 3-channel SID chip from a 1980s Commodore 64, they recreated the tracks “Everything Counts“, “Enjoy the Silence“, and “People are People“. The chiptune sound is just right for the band’s moody electronic style.

This LEGO Icons kit makes a great gift for bicycling enthusiasts. When complete, the 1015-piece road bike set is a 23.5″ long, 14″ high model that looks just like the real deal, complete with rubber tires, a working pedal and chain drive mechanism, and a rear wheel lift stand. It even comes with a tiny water bottle. Orders ship starting 6.1.2026.

Filmmaker Devon Massyn takes us to the remote Solomon Islands to witness the immense power of Kavachi, one of the world’s most active underwater volcanoes. Using a drone to fly over the site, we see the volcano bursting through the Pacific Ocean’s surface with plumes of sulfur, steam, and boiling seawater. The volcano’s ominous sound is unforgettable.

The Holdovers’ breakout star, Dominic Sessa, portrays a young Anthony Bourdain in this biopic about the late, great chef, writer, and travel journalist’s early days as he discovers his love for food and cooking under the mentorship of a demanding but caring head chef played by Antonio Banderas. From A24 and director Matt Johnson. In theaters 8.2026.

Ready to give your brain and eyes a workout? This challenging jigsaw puzzle features an image of randomly-colored pixels, making it incredibly difficult to complete. The 1000-piece puzzle is sure to take many hours to complete, with the payoff being a 24″ square of of dots that you can tell your friends contains a hidden message even though it doesn’t.

These 6-sided dice are CNC-machined from metal for accuracy. They come in a dozen materials, from a hefty tungsten to a lightweight magnesium. Their titanium Mokume dice are the most striking, with wavy patterns formed by combining two grades of titanium, each taking on a different color when anodized. Each is priced individually based on material.

ProcessX takes us inside a Japanese factory that makes telescopes by hand. The work involves carefully gluing together precision lenses for its viewfinder, spray painting the interior and exterior of tubes, and machining gears, before painstakingly assembling all of its parts. Despite all of the hands-on work, the Scopetech Atlas 80 sells for under $500.

The latest big-screen epic from filmmaker Christopher Nolan promises a dramatic retelling of Homer’s mythical epic, The Odyssey, in a cinematic spectacle that deserves IMAX viewing. The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and arrives in theaters 7.17.2026.

This versatile pocket tool combines eight useful functions. Made from black-coated stainless steel, it packs two deployable blades: a tanto knife, and a multitool with a pry bar, screwdriver, nail puller, box cutter, can opener, and a serrated scraper edge. On the back end, you’ll find a clip for keys or attaching to a belt loop.

Like getting together with friends to play cornhole? Matt Thompson Woodworks came up with the perfect upgrade to the party game: a hand-built stand that holds beanbags, keeps score, and has a drink cooler hidden inside. Plus, it has spikes in its base to hold it securely in the ground. It’s a one-off build at this point, but he should put this into production.

This Japanese-made screwdriver set from Vessel is designed for extracting difficult-to-remove screws. Its high-grip handle maximizes torque and automatically rotates in reverse when struck with a hammer. The kit includes six bits for slotted, Phillips, and Torx screws, plus a special wedge-shaped tool that bites into damaged screw heads.

An ordinary cassette tape measures 4″ x 2.5″. David Picciuto of Make Something created this huge wooden cassette that’s roughly 15 times that size. He made the 30 lb. cassette using plywood, laser-cut veneers, an acrylic window, 3D-printed tape reels, and a fabric tape loop. This piece will be on exhibit at David’s show at Odelot Toledo from 6.20 to 6.27.26.

This unique lantern from Zoobelives helps set the mood around your campsite. Its light source doesn’t sit behind a diffuser, evoking the exposed filament look of vintage Edison bulbs. Instead of a cheap plastic body, it’s made from polished aluminum. Choose between cool white and warm firelight modes with 100-step adjustable dimming.

The Home Depot sells a whole lot of stuff, but do they really have everything you need to build a working bicycle? BeBeau Builds challenged himself to do just that, and attempted to assemble a functional bike from materials like conduit, plywood, saw blades, rubber hoses, angle grinders, and wheelbarrow parts. Building the drivetrain was the trickiest part.

When checking a bag at the airport, there’s a chance you’ll get it back in worse condition when you arrive. Skip stressing about damage, and buy one of these pre-dented suitcases we spotted on AliExpress. Jupiter Fly’s roller bag is vacuum-formed to look like it’s already been kicked around. It’ll also stand out from the crowd in baggage claim. Available in four sizes.

The giant balloons are back, and the gang from How Ridiculous is ready to pop a bunch more. This time, the challenge is to see how many they can burst using replicas of iconic film props, from Harry Potter’s magic wand to Thor’s hefty Stormbreaker axe to Wolverine’s adamantium claws. Also, we bet a real lightsaber would have performed better.