Israeli designer HIlla Shamia has found a way to mix “oil and water” or aluminum and wood – two materials I’ve never seen fused together. The product designer has created a novel way to meld both poured aluminum with irregular wood chunks to create modern tables and benches with a warm industrial feel. Old world and new world in one.

A skill like woodworking takes years and thousands of hours to become more than just a proficient at, but this man invested that time to be a certifiable master. His name is Randall Rosenthal and he has talent that can result in mind-bending illusions. The project in the gallery below all started with three pieces of white pine he glued together. What he turned that block of wood into is so cool.

Commissioned by the Province of Friesland, Oak (Onix and Achterbosch Architecture) has developed a road bridge that connects 2 districts of Sneek on either side of the A7 motorway. The bridge was designed for a municipality that wished to establish a new city marker along the motorway. Framework The Department of Public Works, the user of the bridge, stated that it wished to use more wood in its constructions.

President Barack Obama speaks to the press in the Briefing Room of the White House April 27, 2011 in Washington, DC. US President Barack Obama released a long form version of his birth certificate after extended criticism by those who do not believe he was born in the United States. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Skoda caused a huge stir with its car made out of cake. The advert features an army of bakers creating a Fabia out of an array of tasty baked treats, while Julie Andrews sings about her favourite things in the background. The chassis is built from huge slabs of sponge cake. Its paintwork is marzipan. Golden Syrup lubricates the engine. And the roof is finished with sugar.

There is an endless bounty of eye-catching gemstones throughout the world and this spectacular boulder opal is one unique beauty that looks like a shimmering crystal encased in a tree fossil. Its opalescent sheen seeps through the cracks of the seemingly wooden rings in lustrous hues of emerald green and aqua blue. Like something out of a fairy tale, the triangular piece radiates through an organic pattern mimicking the growth rings of tree.

Israelis of Ethiopian origin take part in a rally against racism on January 10, 2012, in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Malachi, Israel. Hundreds of demonstrators hit the streets of Kiryat Malachi, protesting what they call the discrimination of Ethiopian immigrants. According to Ethiopian residents of Kiryat Malachi, housing committees in the city have been refusing to sell them apartments. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

A British inspired Transformer, made from original bus parts is displayed in front of Tower Bridge on November 28, 2009 in London, England. Twitter fans voted to see a London “bendy” bus made into a Transformer to celebrate the DVD & Blu-ray release of “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen”. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images for Paramount Home Entertainment)