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Highlights
Consumer TechTechnology
If touchscreens won, why am I buying buttons?
by Howard Armitage
We were told touchscreens were the future. So why am I buying more buttons? From Stream Decks and smart homes to VW's return to physical controls, did we spend 20 years removing buttons only to spend the next 20 trying to put them back.
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DronesConsumer TechTechnology
Tiny drone hits invisible mode by twisting faster than eye can detect
by Omar Kardoudi
Engineers have built a drone that vanishes without camouflage or transparent panels. Its trick is spinning so fast that your eyes simply give up trying to focus, a stealth edge that could turn surveillance into something almost invisible.
BicyclesTransport
Latest Volkswagen smart vehicle isn't a camper bus or car
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
N+ has developed a boatload of safety features – and licensed Volkswagen's branding – for its latest ebike. This baby has the first rear-view camera integrated into an ebike, and even talks to a smart helmet and glasses.
RoboticsEngineering
Cyborg cockroaches go amphibious ... thanks to a new diving suit
by Etiido Uko
What sounds more terrifying than a part-cockroach, part-robot cyborg? Definitely one that can also breathe underwater. Yet, this is exactly what researchers have just created, except they are replacing “terrifying” with “useful.” Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and Waseda University in Japan have created a soft, flexible diving suit for cyborg cockroaches. The suits are equipped with miniature oxygen generators that allow the cockroaches to survive for up to three hours underwater or in low-oxygen conditions.
TentsGearOutdoors
Sub-1-lb Dyneema tent boosts life at backcountry base camp
by C.C. Weiss
Zpacks presents its latest featherlight backpacking tent. Pitched with a single pole, the new Plex Solo Pro pulls out all the stops in delivering an ambitious blend of ultralight packability and camping convenience.
MaterialsEngineering
Electronic temporary tattoos monitor your vitals without irritation
by Malcolm Azania
New electronic tattoos go on like face paint but conduct electricity, allowing telemetry of hearts, muscles, and brains. Robust enough to power prosthetics, the customizable substance can be removed by a washcloth and reapplied as often as needed.
AutomotiveTransport
Fiat's Multiplina: The electric anti-SUV we didn't know we needed
by Utkarsh Sood
It seems we’re living in an age of revival. Revival of old brands, motorcycles, and scooters. Now, with the Fiat Multiplina, we have the revival of the very cool bubble cars that saw peak popularity somewhere in the middle of the last century.
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Refractor: Science & Health
Please note that articles listed in this section will open at our sister site: Refractor
BiologyScienceRefractor: Science & Health
Why nature has never evolved a perfect weapon for any species
by Bronwyn Thompson
From a snake's venomous fangs to the sharp spines that cover a cactus, puncture tools can be found right across the animal kingdom. While they come in all shapes and sizes, there's a fascinating force driving their diverse designs.
Infectious DiseasesIllnesses and conditionsBody and MindRefractor: Science & Health
Many cold and flu tablets don't work. An expert explains why
by The Conversation
Cold and flu tablets often promise fast relief. But the evidence is clear: for nasal congestion, these medicines do not work as well as they claim. So why are they still being sold?
SleepWellness and Healthy LivingBody and MindRefractor: Science & Health
Some good news if you think you've accumulated a sleep debt
by The Conversation
"Sleep debt” assumes your shut-eye works like a bank account. That lost hours stack up, carry over, and you must eventually repay them in full. Well, you'll be pleased to know that it doesn’t work this way. And chasing “enough sleep” isn't helping.
Elsewhere