Though beaten to a patent maize plant by Dr Kindiger and his colleagues, they believe they may already have identified one of the genes the Oklahoma group is seeking, and that they are hot on the trail of the others.

ECONOMIST: Genetic engineering

Jack Daniels licensed its name for use on a mustard, which is no big hit and may be poisoning the name of a high-class liquor with images of hot-dog stands.

FORBES: Ballpoint Perfume

Although some coffees may contain more caffeine than Monster's energy drinks, Herrera says that coffee is typically served hot and consumed more slowly than energy drinks.

NPR: San Francisco City Attorney Sues Monster Beverage

But these forthcoming devices -- some of them still prototypes -- may heighten interest in what is already a hot consumer electronics category while offering hope to newspapers, magazines and other struggling print publishers.

CNN: Bold new e-readers grab attention at CES