# Scientific Office Toys This Advanced Desk Toy Was Designed by an Astronomy and Physics Professor By David Ingram | Published 2015-11-01 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/office-toy References: [lostateminor](http://www.lostateminor.com/2015/10/29/this-executive-toy-was-created-by-an-astronomy-and-physics-professor-and-its-on-kickstarter-right-now/) & [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/siriusenigmas/the-phitop-a-spinning-top-that-levels-up-executive) Astonomy and Physics professor Kenneth Brecher created this seemingly simple egg-shaped office toy that incorporates scientific, artistic and mathematical elements into its design. The 'PhiTOP' is described as being in a basic sense a sort of "philosophical" toy that includes elements of a pondering puzzle and an interactive toy. The egg-shaped design lets users spin the toy like a top, and through careful design and a basic understanding of physics the device can go from horizontal to vertical as it spins for two to three minutes at a time. Made from metal, this office toy also acts as an eye-pleasing [standing desk sculpture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arnardo-desk) or paperweight, can be rolled around in the hand to help reduce [stress](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gel-stress-ball) and can even be put into the freezer to act as a non-melting ice cube to cool down a drink of scotch. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.4/10 - Popularity: 94% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Scientific Office Toys:** Designing advanced desk toys that incorporate scientific, artistic, and mathematical elements can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for the toy industry. - **Multifunctional Desk Toys:** Designing desk toys that can be used as stress-reducing devices or as decorative sculptures can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for the toy industry. - **Interactive Desk Toys:** Designing interactive desk toys that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for the educational toy industry. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Industry:** The toy industry can benefit from the development of scientifically-designed office toys as unique and innovative products. - **Stress-reduction Industry:** The stress-reduction industry can explore the design of desk toys that can be used as stress-relief products to help improve the well-being of individuals in the workplace. - **Educational Toy Industry:** The educational toy industry can benefit from the creation of interactive desk toys that promote learning and critical thinking skills in an engaging and entertaining manner. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Solid Brass Workstation Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kinetic-desk-toy.md) - [Mechanical Kinetic Motion Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mezmoglobe.md) - [Optical Illusion Fidget Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mezmocoin-infinity.md) - [Magnetic Wooden Sculpture Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnetic-sculpture.md) - [Elegant Desktop Brainteaser Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/craighill-tetra.md) - [Tetrahedral Desk Puzzles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/desk-puzzles.md) - [Metallic Super-Ellitpical Desk Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/altdynamic-superegg.md) - [Machined Metallic Topology Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/altdynamic-torus.md) - [Therapeutic Fidget Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speks-magnet-balls.md)