Headliner
World's first hotel entirely staffed by robots to open in 2027
by Bronwyn Thompson
The first hotel run by robots is set to open its doors to the public next year. It comes as no surprise that it's happening in China – on the artificial island built for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the cross-sea megaproject in the Pearl River Delta.
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Highlights
AircraftTransport
Toyota-backed air taxi hits 100 km/h, speeding toward commercial debut
by Omar Kardoudi
Toyota-backed SkyDrive's multicopter has achieved stable flight at 100 km/h, proving its wingless design handles real aerodynamic loads. The milestone feeds Japan's JCAB certification process and keeps 2028 commercial launch in sight.
MotorcyclesTransport
Ducati enters 250 motocross class with a rev-happy 15,000 RPM monster
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Just a year after the company's first foray into motocross bikes, Ducati has unveiled the Desmo250 MX, a fire-breathing featherweight built to dominate tracks with possibly the highest revving engine in its class.
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ComputingConsumer TechTechnology
IBM fits ~100 billion transistors on a fingernail-sized chip
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
IBM has developed the blueprint for producing a processor using sub-1-nanometer chip technology, outdoing its own efforts to increase efficiency and processing power with 2-nm tech from a few years ago.
AutomotiveTransport
Vicious Ford GT40 restomod gets car fanatics swooning
by Utkarsh Sood
Sure, the CAV GT MkII looks heavily inspired by the GT40, but underneath it features completely modern underpinnings. CAV calls it a series-production restomod supercar, and it is limited to just 40 units globally for its 60th Anniversary Edition.
AI in HealthMedical InnovationsBody and Mind
Midjourney's ambitious full-body 'scan spa' sounds almost too good to be true
by Bronwyn Thompson
A company known for its AI image generation has made a surprise pivot – to healthcare. Midjourney says it will deliver a "new form of medical imaging" to map the body, in a day-spa setting, with the first center due to open to the public in 2027.
Knives and MultitoolsGearOutdoors
10-function multi-disc tool encircles compass with bonus features
by Maryna Holovnova
The Ti-Trailblazer looks like a traditional mechanical compass, but its compact body hides 10 additional miniature tools designed as a backup option for your outdoor adventures. It's currently on Kickstarter.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
VW's best California camper van gets even better with overnight A/C
by C.C. Weiss
Volkswagen has refreshed the California camper van with a new look, sharpened interface and improved driver-assistance package. Best of all, a new climate control feature will make camping more comfortable throughout the entire year.
Technology
High-sensitivity electro snout sniffs out unsafe food
by Shirl Leigh
Though our noses can detect suspicious smells at high levels, they can't discern every scent. Scientists have now developed an “electronic nose” that can pick up on the gases emitted by expired food, which they say is “better than human noses.”
AutomotiveTransport
Chinese cars go blacker than black via hybrid nano tech
by Simon Heptinstall
Combining a nano-tech coating with carbon pigment has created sprayable ultra-black car coating. A Chinese research team has demonstrated a breakthrough to create new levels of blackness on an industrial scale.
MilitaryEngineering
Lockheed Martin targets cheaper, mass-producible hypersonic missiles
by David Szondy
Lockheed Martin is moving the US hypersonic missile program a step closer to production with the announcement that it has begun work on its Next Generation Glide Body (NXGB), a new hypersonic vehicle designed for low-cost, large-scale manufacturing.
ElectronicsConsumer TechTechnology
Compact laser engraver levels up your DIY crafts setup
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Laser engraving custom graphics can elevate your craft projects to make them feel more polished and personalized. A new tool for the job that we've just come across – the Hanboost T1 – looks like a great entry point for beginners.
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Refractor: Science & Health
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BiologyScience
World first: Human embryo model grows its own organs – in the lab
by Bronwyn Thompson
Chinese researchers have taken a big step toward a world in which we can cultivate organs for transplant, with the first-ever embryo-disc model that can support and grow the seed cells needed in vitro. It's also a huge leap for regenerative medicine.
Learning & MemoryBrain HealthBody and Mind
Your brain runs on autopilot – until a surprise triggers a memory update
by Bronwyn Thompson
If you've ever wonder why you remember surprise events more vividly than the predictable, new research has uncovered how the brain encodes novel information in more detail than the familiar, allocating energy away from what it already knows.
Brain HealthBody and Mind
Missing just one night of sleep impacts your brain’s connections
by Mike McRae
A new study has uncovered evidence of “synaptic down-selection” as we sleep, suggesting our nightly shut-eye is a perfect opportunity to prune back any neurological hedges that went wild during the day.
Mental HealthBrain HealthBody and Mind
Unusual low-impact workout alleviates depression symptoms in weeks
by Bronwyn Thompson
Five weeks of walking around with poles in each hand could have a surprising effect on anyone with moderate depressive symptoms. What's more, it's also a low-impact workout that can suit people who are otherwise lacking energy or motivation.
Elsewhere
With much of the northern hemisphere trying to stay cool at the moment Guy Clarke investigates how effective Passive Houses are at maintaining a comfortable temperature.
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