Chargers for plug-in electric vehicles are nothing new, but the folks at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have some smart plans for their new Smart Charger Controller. They hope that it might one day serve as a standard charger for all manner of electric vehicles.

Apparently each controller would be wirelessly linked to the local electric company, which would feed the controller power prices and other pertinent information so that it can charge during non-peak hours. That right there will save owners roughly $150 a year. It might even be able to sense “stress conditions” and shut down before the grid overloads.

Researchers at Tohoku University have reportedly figured out a way to “multiply the amount of data that can be stored on a DVD or CD by 9.” Apparently, it works by shaping the pits on a DVD’s surface like Vs, essentially allowing you to get more out of the disc. The problem is that existing DVD & CD players won’t recognize the media made in this way, and for some reason the process can’t be applied to Blu-ray Discs. Still pretty cool though.