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
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?
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Highlights

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.

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).
More Stories

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.

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.

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

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.
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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