Headliner
World’s first native color LiDAR gives machines human-like vision
by Omar Kardoudi
For the first time, a LiDAR sensor sees the world in color natively – no camera required. Ouster's Rev8 technology gives machines richer, faster 3D vision for the next wave of autonomous robots and vehicles.
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Highlights
MotorcyclesTransport
Kymco's practical yet stylish middleweight touring scooter lands in US
by Utkarsh Sood
There probably isn’t any other bikemaker in the world that’s more synonymous with scooters than Kymco. The company has now launched its ninth model in the US – which is billed as a middleweight grand tourer.
GamesConsumer TechTechnology
Full-size arcade gaming system folds into a cabinet when not in use
by Maryna Holovnova
Swap Arcade is a full-sized arcade machine with hundreds of games that can fold into a classic wooden cabinet when not in use. This nostalgic product may appeal to those who grew up playing arcades, and it is now available on Kickstarter.
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GearOutdoors
1.5-lb pocket winch manhandles loads over 1,000x its weight
by C.C. Weiss
Built for fast, remote motorized adventure that can go wrong in a hurry, the Dragan Pocket Winch aims to be the lightest come-along out there. It fractionalizes weight while still multiplying muscle enough to move up to 2,000 lb of stuck bike.
Tiny HousesOutdoors
Extra-wide tiny house focuses on storage without sacrificing comfort
by Adam Williams
The Black Butte tiny house uses some clever interior design ideas to create an open and storage-packed layout that still makes room for some nice touches, including a bathroom with a freestanding bathtub.
Knives and MultitoolsGearOutdoors
3rd-Gen multitool packs 20 functions into funky key form
by Maryna Holovnova
EDC Monster has introduced the latest version of its compact key-shaped multitool, designed to pack more than 20 functions into a pocket-friendly form. It is currently available for backing on Kickstarter.
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RoboticsEngineering
Heated PLA robo-octopus gripper goes limp to grapple, hard to lift
by Malcolm Azania
Using arms to swim, crawl, sort, and grip, the Octopus-Inspired Upward Transport Robot (OUT-Robot) employs an inflatable “head” for zero-energy underwater ascent. It could offer a significant boost for oceanic exploration and resource extraction.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
VW camper vans make a bold return to US market (with a catch)
by C.C. Weiss
The dark near-quarter century of no new Volkswagen camper vans in the US is coming to a fast end. VW is bringing a factory camper van back to the US for the 2027 model year. It might not be the camper we want, but maybe it's the one we need.
MotorcyclesTransport
Honda's thinking of adding a fake clutch and vibration motors to its e-motos
by Utkarsh Sood
Times are weird, and I guess weird times call for weird measures. At least, as per Honda, which thinks it's about time electric motorcycles replicated the old-school feel of gas bikes.
ArchitectureEngineering
The extraordinary architecture of San Diego's new Navy SEAL museum
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
San Diego has a deep connection to America's military and naval forces, and it'll soon be home to a marvelous institution to showcase the history, legacy, and future of the Navy SEALs. The new Navy SEAL museum is set to open in 2032.
Refractor: Science & Health
Please note that articles listed in this section will open at our sister site: Refractor
EnvironmentScience
Antarctica's waters are warming – I know, because I jumped in
by Cat Williams
It was cold – but nowhere near what I expected; I’ve been colder in an outdoor swimming pool in Australia. It's part of a global feedback loop, the scale of which I only began to comprehend when I saw this remarkable continent for myself.
ChemistryScience
New cage-like crystal found in the waste of the world’s first nuclear explosion
by Mike McRae
More than 80 years after the world-famous Trinity test showed humanity what to expect from an atomic detonation, researchers are still sifting new discoveries out of its twisted remains.
Aging WellWellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind
Four weeks of small diet tweaks can shift needle on your biological age
by Bronwyn Thompson
Less fat, animal-sourced protein and more complex carbs each day, for less than a month, can potentially take years off the biological clock in older adults. It suggests our health is more sensitive to short-term lifestyle changes than we think.
EnvironmentScience
Mexico City is sinking – and NASA is watching it happen
by Chris Young
Mexico City is trapped in a dangerous feedback loop. As groundwater is pumped from beneath the city, the ground subsides, with some entire regions sinking far faster than others, a problem NASA is tracking from above.
Infectious DiseasesIllnesses and conditionsBody and Mind
New document reveals surprising truth of Black Death survivors
by The Conversation
In our research in the British Library’s medieval collections, we have identified a previously unnoticed document that provides fresh insights into the survivors of the outbreak of plague known as the Black Death.
Elsewhere
Friday fun: This Wikipedia clone is designed to deliberately hallucinate the answer to any query you put in.
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