Tossing out old laptops and cell phones is a big environmental no-no, but disassembling them for recycling is no easy feat. Nokia is looking to change that, as it's developed a cell-phone prototype that can disassemble in just 2 seconds. By using laser heating, the case will come apart and the gooey innards can be easily removed and sorted. The materials used are designed to only come apart at a specific temperature — not cool enough so your phone will come apart if left out at the beach, but not so hot that the plastic will melt during the process. Nokia hopes to make the whole process of disassembling phones for recycling a much easier and cheaper affair, although the process still requires a dedicated disassembly line. The company is working on developing the method further, so in a couple years, and with a bit of luck, you won't be treating the environment so cavalierly when you upgrade to whatever tiny RAZR is coming out. — Adam Frucci

Via Treehugger