Headliner

Remarkable sodium-ion battery has a heart of 'wood'
by Maryna Holovnova
With the rise of clean energy, scientists have been searching for ways to design cheaper, safer, and more sustainable batteries. German researchers have come up with a promising solution: making batteries from by-products of the wood industry.
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Highlights

'True 4K' laser projector lights up smaller home theater spaces
by Paul Ridden
BenQ has heard the anguished cries of movie enthusiasts who don't have the luxury of large rooms for a home cinema setup. The W5850 4K projector sports a shorter-throw lens for big-screen visuals in smaller spaces.

Review: Smart chessboard has an epic Harry Potter special edition
by Bronwyn Thompson
The makers of a smart Rubik's Cube-like puzzle have upped the ante with their game technology with a special edition Harry Potter-themed chess board, complete with character pieces. But can AI help you learn how to play? You might be surprised.
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More Stories

Undersea earthquakes are supercharging the Southern Ocean
by Chelsea Haney
The first ever study to document a direct relationship between earthquake activity at the bottom of the ocean and phytoplankton growth at the surface changes the way scientists in the future will model ecosystems.

A second Sphere venue is coming to the US
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
The imposing Sphere in Las Vegas might soon have a little sibling on the East Coast. The company behind it has announced its intent to build a similar venue at National Harbor in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

NexPhone revisits the long-running dream of combining phone and laptop
by Monica J. White
After a decade of false starts across the industry, Nex Computer revisits the idea of replacing your laptop with a smartphone. By combining Android, Linux, and Windows in one device, the NexPhone may have made the vision a reality.

5-minute cold brew machine grinds and steeps on your tumbler
by Shirl Leigh
Ecoldbrew is a portable compact coffee machine that fits 40-oz Stanley tumblers or its own custom tumbler. It can whip up a cup of fresh cold brew coffee on the go without the need for overnight steeping or pre-ground beans.

Stealthy EDC pry bar packs more tools than meet the eye
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
You're looking at what seems to be a neat little pry bar – but it surprisingly fits several more handy tools into its compact titanium build, including a bottle opener, a folding knife, a ruler, and an adjustable wrench. It can also work as a screwdriver.

Heartburn meds might not cause cancer after all
by Michael Franco
While heartburn medication can be a lifesaver for those suffering from gastric reflux, several studies over the years have indicated that the drugs could increase stomach cancer risks more than threefold. A new meta analysis says that's likely not the case.

Pocket driver with built-in bits ready to give your EDC a tune-up
by Stefan Ionescu
The CRKT ToGo Driver, designed by John Wu, is a pocket-sized multi-tool that blends sleek design with practical utility, offering everyday carry enthusiasts a compact solution for quick fixes and precision work.
Elsewhere
Clunky funky: Building a CD player into a pair of headphones.
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