Inventors rock! Need proof? Join co-hosts Ziya Tong and Dan Riskin for DAILY PLANET’s inaugural “Invent This!” Week, beginning Monday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. ET through Friday, Feb. 15 on Discovery. Canada’s favourite science show discovers eureka moments around the globe, meeting the inspired men and women turning great ideas into great products – including a hail protector and state-of-the-art landmine sweeper. And, don’t miss the week’s highlight when Canadian icon Martin Short joins Tong to pay homage to a world-famous inventor with an eye-catching, makes-your-tongue-wag demonstration!Highlights from DAILY PLANET’s “Invent This! Week” include:
The Via Train Guy
Jason Shron loves trains. Shron loves them so much that he’s built a full size VIA Rail passenger car in his basement. His day job is all about trains too: He manufactures a HO-scale model railway with incredibly fine detail. How? By using laser scans of the original full-size vehicle and then making tiny parts based on the scans.
Hail Protector
Vehicles large and small are damaged by hail every year in the U.S., costing on average over $3,000 per vehicle. DAILY PLANET goes hunting for a solution and finds Michael Siciliano of Gunter, Texas. Siciliano has invented the Hail Protector – an inflatable automobile cover that can withstand softball-sized hail stones. An app will send you a warning an hour before an expected hail storm and the cover is inflated within minutes by remote control. Best of all, the system will retail for less than $400.
Skyflash
DAILY PLANET meets up with inventors in Germany who really want to fly. So, they’ve built a backpack with engine and wings and say it will take you soaring. The best part however is that jumping out of plane is not necessary, because this invention is designed to take off from the ground!
Mine Kafon
There are more than 100 million active landmines in the world and the Mine Kafon could help rid countries of hidden landmines for good – and save thousands of lives. Netherlands-based designer Massoud Hassani has created a lighter, cheaper alternative to traditional landmine sweepers. Resembling a dandelion, the Mine Kafon is a round, lightweight structure made of bamboo sticks with pressure pads attached, and its aerodynamic shape allows it to move by catching gusts of wind underneath.
About DAILY PLANET
An international success story, DAILY PLANET is produced by Exploration Production Inc. (EPI), a production house wholly owned by Discovery Channel Canada. The series’ Executive Producer is Kelly McKeown; Senior Producers are Cindy Bahadur and Steven Hunt; Supervising Producer is Agatha Rachpaul; Managing Producer is Julie Borthwick; and Director is John Morrison.
