A new alarm system uses scent instead of sound to wake people in the event of a fire. Packed with spray cans full of wasabi "perfume" (perfect for ladies surrounded by men who can't take a hint), the irritation from the emitted substance would be enough to rouse someone, much like the screech of commonplace fire alarms. Tests using the alarm worked really well, with a track record of 13 out of 14 alerted subjects.

Wasabi is some pretty potent stuff, which is probably good — anyone with a stuffy nose would not only be saved from the fire, but enjoy some cleared-out nasal passages, too. Being developed by Japan's Shiga University of Medical Science, the team hopes to have the alarms ready to sell within a few years, though no word on if it will double as a sushi condiment dispenser.

Inventor Spot, via Spluch