Minesweeping dandelion fluff ball could be a lifesaver

Think art can't be useful? Check out this dandelion-shaped land minesweeper. The brainchild of Afghan-born designer Massoud Hassani, the "Mine Kafon" is a handmade bamboo and biodegradable plastic contraption that works by letting the wind blow it around, detonating any landmines in its path ... Oh, and itself. The 175-pound fluff ball is GPS-rigged and linked to a website showing already-swept areas that are now safe. Looks like a toy? That's because it's an extension of a wind-powered gizmo Hassani invented as a child in Afghanistan. He hopes the $50 spheres will go to work clearing mines and protecting kids — but the farthest they've rolled so far is into New York City's Museum of Modern Art, which bought one for display — and where it's unlikely to save any lives. [Source]

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