MPK, a company that has made a name producing glow-in-the-dark paint, has developed self-luminous micro particles called Litrospheres. The new material is said to be inexpensive (35 cents to light up a 8 ½ x 11 piece of plastic that is 1/8" thick), non-toxic, and capable of staying constantly lit for over 12 years thanks to a betavoltaic technology that uses a radioactive gas.

Fortunately, the gas is involves a "soft" emission of electrons that cannot penetrate the glass or polymer wall of the microspheres. So theoretically, you don't have to worry about brain tumors or taking on super powers when using it.

The Litrospheres, which can be injected molded or added to paint, are not affected by the heat or cold and they can withstand up to 5000 pounds of pressure. They can also give off light that is equivalent of a 20-watt incandescent bulb in almost any color imaginable. As you might expect, the first applications of the technology will most likely involve safety equipment—or the clothing and accessories of frequent clubgoers. [Wiki via Treehugger]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/heading-to-a-club-near-you/new-material-provides-constant--light-for-12-years-without-a-power-source-332669.php 

 Meh. Call me when the super powered brain tumor inducing version is released.

There have been tons of research breakthroughs in the last few years. Aerogel which is a hyper insulator, d3o which is new material to make even a toboggan tough like bodyarmor when hit, plastic steel that is being designed to stop bullets.

Also, they have found the gene that influences aging and have helped rats live 6 times longer, another substance makes for a super rat that has 10 times the amount of energy and endurance, Stranger still is that they have discovered ways to manipulate genes to where they can eventually create new species to fill in gaps between the existing ones.

Then we have the whole "green" concept that is fueling innovations globally. Cars that run off air, power that renews itself, etc.

Top that off with the multimedia boom in digital downloads, smartphones, stereoscopic 3D tvs, and input controls like multitouch displays, holograms, and motion sensing, and we are in for an exciting couple of decades. The future is always here and it is even more here with every day that passes. lol.

"Hey everyone the future is here"

You mean the present is here.

Non-toxic and radio active... contradiction much?

So we can paint ceilings light-colored, and forget about lightbulbs?

yeah i really don't understand this also can someone splain this to me 

Have you seen Sony's paper thin "i-pod-movie-player" thingy ?

Or how about the holograms ?

Damn I wish I had the links.. well worth it..

It doesn't looklike it would be bright enough for that.  Although I wonder if it would work as emergency lighting...

 I saw a feature on one such mouse experiment, where one of them had been genetically altered for more endurance.

Scientists were baffled at the difference, sending the two mice (one modified, one normal) onto a treadmill to go for the topmost distance without tiring. The ordinary mouse ran for about 200 yards and the modded one ran for almost 3.5 miles...!