Popular Mechanics has jumped the gun and already given us their ten best gadgets of the year.

Here's their lead-in: The early 20th century produced a breathtaking succession of innovations--the Wright Flyer, the Model T, the Panama Canal. It was a golden age of engineering. (Some serious gadgets indeed!)

A century hence, observers may well look back at our era in much the same way: Cars are being reimagined from the wheels up. Advances in solar energy show the way past fossil fuels. And space probes explore planets that could become our future homes.

Check out their "Top 10" here and let us know what you think.

(And thanks to the New America Foundation for the Rube Goldberg image.)