America, meanwhile, has again been showing around documents that purport to be Iranian design work on a missile nose-cone of a sort that that could carry a nuclear warhead.

ECONOMIST: Will Russia help, or just get in the way?

Other advances included rubber cone independent suspension, designed by Alex Moulton (who incidentally, went on to design the Moulton bicycle -- another of my favorite designs), rack and pinion steering and a monocoque body that eliminated the need for a costly separate chassis.

CNN: A design classic

Perhaps you recycle your cardboard and Coke cans, but if you're looking for a bit of inspiration from master design-recyclers check out this pendant lamp made from hundreds of soda tabs, this Cone Light made from repurposed traffic cones, and this chandelier composed almost entirely of six-pack rings.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: electric cars, solar planes, and really sweet lights