The idea of using a sharp cutting device such as a lawnmower or hedge clipper powered by electricity never appealed to us, especially since there is that power cable nearby that could be quickly and easily cut. Now three inventors from Indiana have come to the rescue, patenting a special type of electrical cable that can't shock you if you sever it.


How does it work? The cable contains the customary two normally-insulated live wires plus an uninsulated ground wire. Surrounding all three wires is a carbon-laced polymer that conducts the electricity if the wire is cut, sending that current to the ground wire instead of through you. That's the kind of shocking experience we would very much like to avoid. Hey, this should be a standard type of electrical cable for all applications.

No Mow Shocks [New Scientist, via [OhGizmo]