This website uses cookies

Read our Privacy policy and Terms of use for more information.

Many people feel that the day hasn't started until they've had at least one cup of coffee. But I wonder if they'd be quite so enthusiastic for their daily hits if the beans that flavor the steaming beverage had been carefully picked from a steaming pile of civet excrement.

For coffee connoisseurs, that's pretty much what you're getting when you pay top dollar for your batch of Kopi luwak – the world's most expensive coffee. Hmm. I think I'll stick to my hibiscus tea.

Paul Ridden

Headliner
Kopi luwak, the world’s most expensive coffee, really is different

Kopi luwak, the world’s most expensive coffee, really is different

by Ian Baker

The world’s priciest coffee comes from civet droppings. New research confirms these “poo coffee” beans are chemically distinct – but does that make them taste better, or just pricier?

Today’s newsletter sponsor

Kingbull Black Friday Sale 2025: Save Up to $900 on Premium E-Bikes

The Black Friday season has officially arrived, and Kingbull is kicking it off in style. From November 5 to December 5, 2025, riders can enjoy the brand’s largest discounts ever — up to $900 off on select electric bikes.

Highlights
DronesConsumer TechTechnology

Battery-free drone designed to fly as long as the sun shines

by Paul Ridden

The father and son team behind the world's fastest quadcopter we featured last year has now built what essentially looks like a flying photovoltaic panel, in a bid to create a drone that's powered by solar alone.

ADHD & AutismBrain HealthBody and Mind

No credible tie between Tylenol use and autism/ADHD, huge study finds

by Bronwyn Thompson

Despite high-profile advice to avoid Tylenol when pregnant and a potential warning-label change, a comprehensive umbrella study of reviews has found no credible link between acetaminophen and autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

MotorcyclesTransport

This is how Honda envisions the future of motorcycles

by Utkarsh Sood

Ever wondered how some of the biggest motorcycle makers in the world think the future of two-wheeled mobility will look? Well, Honda gave us all a glimpse into its own vision through its EV Outlier Concept at this year’s Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.

Expedition TrucksAdventure VehiclesOutdoors

Herculean 4x4 camper van amps up for bigger, bolder adventure

by C.C. Weiss

A cross between an oversized adventure van, toy hauler and expedition vehicle, the Epicore Action Van does adventure a little differently. Its massive garage stores and maintains all your gear while its roomy interior sleeps and feeds four people.

SleepWellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind

Why your brain can't focus when you haven't slept

by Pranjal Malewar

Sleep isn't just rest, it's a crucial biological process. New MIT research has revealed why sleep deprivation causes attention slips. It found brain fluid surges usually reserved for sleep time occur during waking hours, throwing one's ability to focus

WearablesConsumer TechTechnology

Puma White Hunter: The legendary multi-tool hunting knife

by David Szondy

There are knives, good knives, great knives, and classic knives. Then there are the knives that are flat-out legends with remarkable stories behind them. One of these is the instantly recognizable Puma White Hunter that redefined the hunting knife.

Special promotion for New Atlas readers

Upgrade a PC for just $10 with this Microsoft deal

Could your PC use a refresh? It sounds crazy, but upgrading to a new operating system can make that happen for under $10. Right now, you can score a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for just $9.97 (reg. $199) through November 16.

CancerIllnesses and conditionsBody and Mind

How common drugs are affecting cancer treatment

by Bronwyn Thompson

A large international study of more than 23,000 patients has found that common medicines used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as heartburn, may be impacting cancer treatment effectiveness.

Tiny HousesOutdoors

Custom tiny house delivers luxury for its owners, and their pets too

by Adam Williams

This custom tiny house provides an apartment-like living experience for its owners – and their pets too. It boasts some welcome home comforts inside, including a downstairs bedroom, and a well-stocked kitchen.

Around The HomeLifestyle

Xiaomi launches a voice-controlled, mite-fighting electric blanket

by Maryna Holovnova

Ever since Xiaomi was founded, it's expanded from making smartphones to AR glasses, robots, and even cars. And just when you think the firm has created everything imaginable, it's introduced a smart blanket with voice control that also fights mites.

Medical InnovationsBody and Mind

Smart dressings and stem cells: The future of wound healing

by Paul McClure

From silver nanofibers to smart, sensory-packed dressings, the next generation of wound-healing technology is blurring the line between biology and engineering. A new review has looked at what’s better, the old or the new.

Heart DiseaseIllnesses and conditionsBody and Mind

Coffee has "astounding" impact on irregular heartbeat in world-first trial

by Bronwyn Thompson

Caffeine appears to do the opposite of what you might think when it comes to the heart. Scientists have found that a cup of coffee a day actually protects the heart from atrial fibrillation – a condition that can lead to stroke and heart failure.

Get your next issue ad-free – and support our work: join New Atlas Plus!

   

Keep Reading