Could I use my car wheel as a unicycle?

Funnily enough, yes. In early 2015, Ford filed a patent for a whacky system that would convert one of your car’s wheels into a self-balancing unicycle. Firstly, a built-in, automatic jack would lift the car so you could easily remove a wheel, helped by a quick release function. Within the hub of the removed wheel is an electric motor and battery pack, which will most likely be pre-charged by the car’s engine. The saddle and handlebar unit – which you store in the boot – would click into place, and, bingo, the end result would resemble the gyroscopic RYNO (above). Whether you’re happy to look like a sci-fi circus performer is another matter.

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.