Bright Ideas

The Chicago Innovation Awards were announced today, and sure, everybody loves Threadless, but we were pretty geeked about some of the other winners: Permeable, light-reflective "green alleys" can help cities reduce heat costs and better manage ground water. A molecular diagnostic test helps physicians closely track different strains of HIV. A fuse that can fix itself means people don't lose power--nor do they have to pay for crews to come repair blown lines. And who knew Radio Flyer wagons were the wave of the future?

The rest are...pretty boring. Here's hoping next year's awards go to whoever solves the transit funding crisis. C'mon, innovators!