Headliner
Coffee in your walls? Breakthrough converts grounds to insulation
by Michael Franco
Around the world, over two billion daily cups of coffee are consumed. That means there are a staggering amount of coffee grounds getting tossed away every day. Researchers now have a plan to turn all that waste into eco-friendly insulation.
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Highlights
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
VW Basecamp forges a new path for multi-fuel van life
by C.C. Weiss
If the average RV shop said it was working on its "most robust, self-sufficient and luxurious camper van," we'd dismiss it as marketing hype. But Tonke isn't average, and we're excited to see what it has in store for VW's newest Transporter.
PhotographyConsumer TechTechnology
2026 World Press Photo winners capture planet in a state of flux
by Bronwyn Thompson
From wildfires to our wars on nature and each other, the subjects captured in the winning 42 images of the 69th World Press Photo Contest are not the easiest to view – but it's what makes this annual competition such a prestigious and powerful one.
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More Stories
Urban TransportTransport
Review: The golden Oceano yacht of scooters – Navee UT5 Ultra X
by Joe Salas
Navee's latest flagship scooter is a fast, flashy, and formidable. It feels more like an electric motorcycle than a mere mobility machine. It's not perfect, but its power, planted chassis and premium touches make it one heck of a lavish land yacht.
Tiny HousesOutdoors
130-sq-ft tiny house maximizes space with multifunctional layout
by Adam Williams
Measuring just 130 sq ft, the Shoji is definitely smaller than the average tiny house. However, it makes up for its modest size with a space-saving multifunctional design that sleeps up to two people.
Home EntertainmentConsumer TechTechnology
Samsung's compact speakers bring wireless home theater sound anywhere
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Samsung gave us a glimpse of a couple of seriously desirable lifestyle speakers for 2026 a couple of months ago, and I'm happy to report you can now get your hands on them. The Music Studio lineup not only looks cool, but can also pair up wirelessly.
MilitaryEngineering
Missile kit lets fighter jets down drones on the cheap
by David Szondy
Shooting down a drone with a fighter jet is as cost effective as wrapping sandwiches in gold foil, but BAE Systems has cut the price by firing an economy anti-drone Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missile from a Typhoon Eurofighter.
Consumer TechTechnology
This keychain-sized tracker doubles as a personal safety siren
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Unlike most item trackers that only help you find your stuff a la AirTags, the Pebble Halo is also a personal safety device designed for quick access in an emergency, with a bunch of thoughtful features in a durable body.
Refractor: Science & Health
Body and Mind
How living at high altitudes can protect against diabetes
by Michael Franco
It's long been known that living at higher altitudes can affect physiology, including reducing the incidence of diabetes. The reason why has evaded scientists for decades. That has changed with a new discovery that was hiding in plain sight.
BiologyScience
Researchers gene-edit the bitterness out of grapefruit
by Jay Kakade
In the late 1990s researchers identified the key gene responsible for producing the bitter compounds in grapefruit. Now, using the genome editing technology CRISPR/Cas9, the team has inactivated the gene in grapefruit to eliminate that bitter taste.
EnvironmentScience
Dust is the sky's desaturation filter
by Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo
The explanation is weirder than you might think – in fact, the sky is probably closer to violet. Tiny air molecules and larger particles like dust and pollution scatter sunlight in different ways, painting the sky from deep violet to hazy white.
Elsewhere
💩 Ever wondered just how much humans poop at any given time around the globe?
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