Gravity-defying cups are a thing now.
Dubbed "Levitating CUP," these new floating cups are a break to the usual boring restaurant dinnerware.
There's no magic involved, though. Electromagnetic suspension creates the magical illusion of a floating cocktail drink. And this, according to inventor Joel Paglione, will enhance people's drinking experience.
"I wanted something that could wow everyone," Paglione, a 30-year-old engineer, said in an interview with Live Science.
"So much focus is on plating, on unique presentation in terms of food. I wanted to create something that would complement what restaurants are doing, and create a spectacle with the drink itself."
Liquid nitrogen cocktails are adding a spin to the usual bar drinks and have become popular in many bars in recent years. According to Paglione, this means that there may be an eager audience for another unusual find.
The Levitating CUP is composed of two parts: a cup with a magnetic bottom and a small electrically powered base. The magnets on the cup's bottom and on the base repel each other, and the electricity in the base interacts with the magnetic field, which stabilizes and suspends the cup in midair.
According to Paglione, the cup balances itself while in the air and even while being carried. But some users may find it difficult to use the cup at first, which is why he added a "Levitating Assist" attachment on the base to provide extra stability.
The Levitating CUP is the first electromagnetic system to offer a wireless option, Paglione told Live Science. A fully charged base could last up to 8 hours, and users could also carry their floating cups across the room.
Paglione launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the floating glasses to market, and is already nearing its goal of $50,000, the L.A. Times reports. Early birds can get the wired version of the base and a shatterproof cup for $179, while the wireless base with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery costs $199. Once fully funded, the Levitating CUP will start shipping by October.