Headliner
Flying cell tower beams phone signal to Japan from 10 miles up
by Omar Kardoudi
An unmanned Sceye airship flew from New Mexico to Japan and back, beaming mobile service to ordinary phones from the stratosphere. Still a test, but SoftBank – one of Japan's major mobile carriers – eyes commercial service in Japan from 2027.
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Highlights
Tiny HousesOutdoors
24-ft tiny house finds space to squeeze in three bedrooms
by Adam Williams
A downstairs bedroom is already a luxury in a tiny house, doubly so in this model, which also somehow manages to find room for two lofts and an open layout despite having a modest length of just 24 ft.
AI and HumanoidsTechnology
Mind-reading tech aims to make AI actually intelligent
by Etiido Uko
For all its intelligence, instructing AI can feel like talking to a toddler. You explain the task, but the AI does a different thing. Scientists have now developed a system that detects that “that's not what I meant” response right from your brain.
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Consumer TechTechnology
Review: $19 key puts you in control of your phone screen time – and it works
by Bronwyn Thompson
From a return to "simple" smartphones to timers that hide notifications, there seems to be a market for ways to disengage from our digital devices. This physical key from the innovative company Autonomous AI is the first I have tried, and I was doubtful.
EnergyEngineering
V2G system sucks energy out of parked EVs to supply the grid
by Maryna Holovnova
Cars spend most of their time parked, just sitting around and taking up space in parking lots. But a parking lot full of EVs could potentially become a powerful energy source, supplying electricity to the grid.
EnergyEngineering
Dairy waste could be a sweet new source of biofuel
by Etiido Uko
For centuries, humans have obtained fuel from the remains of organisms that lived millions of years ago, seawater, decaying biomass and now, from cow's milk ... or more accurately, salty whey, a by-product produced during the manufacture of cheese.
MotorcyclesTransport
Radical electric bikemaker is coming to the USA next year
by Utkarsh Sood
Ultraviolette isn’t a household name in the motorcycle market yet. It’s not a one-hit wonder, either. It might be lesser-known in Western circles, but where it’s from, it's carrying a lot of momentum. Naturally, a 2027 US launch is on the cards.
MaterialsEngineering
Smart wallpaper turns your wall into a small indoor powerplant
by Omar Kardoudi
Your walls might one day do more than hold up the building. Researchers at Binghamton University have created a wallpaper-style paper that generates electricity from indoor humidity, and it can soak up and release moisture to help regulate it.
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MilitaryEngineering
Boeing wins 'mystery fighter' contract for US Navy
by David Szondy
Boeing has been awarded a US$20-billion contract by the US Navy to develop the super-secret F/A-XX 6th-Generation fighter plane. The question is, what's under the covers for this aircraft that we've only caught glimpses of?
GearOutdoors
Wearable 2-way radio combines LTE group comms and off-grid backup
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
If your idea of a good time involves heading outdoors with a bunch of pals, you'll want to check out this upcoming gadget. It's a hybrid radio that offers nearly unlimited range so you can stay in touch with your group over long distances.
Elsewhere
The New York Times "asked 100 scientists about unsolved problems in their fields. They sent back provocations – on the origins of life, the possibilities for human progress and much more."
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