Headliner
Spiral solar tower promises near-continuous power for Moon bases
by David Szondy
Blue Origin has unveiled its Power Tower for future Moon bases, which will be carried by the company's Mark 1 lunar lander. After touchdown, the spacecraft will deploy a 20-m (66-ft)-tall solar array for around-the-clock electrical power.
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Birdwatching has become an increasingly popular way to connect with nature, and smart bird feeders have made it easier than ever to identify visiting species and capture their activity. But there is one problem with most connected feeders: they need to stay within range of a Wi-Fi network.
Highlights
GearOutdoors
Pocket piston 2.0 updates the art of combusting fire out of thin air
by C.C. Weiss
Based on timeless, inalterable physics, the Aerohart Aviator's Ember fire piston sparks a flame with nothing more than tinder, air and a quick smack of the hand. Now the tool has been fully redesigned and improved to work even better.
EnergyEngineering
Supercapacitor cement is key to buildings that store their own power
by Ben Coxworth
In the near future, a building's emergency lighting, fire alarms, sensors and other items could be powered not by generators or batteries, but by the actual structural material. That's because scientists have developed a cement-based supercapacitor.
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AutomotiveTransport
Jaguar re-launches itself with striking 1,000-hp Type 01 GT electric
by Simon Heptinstall
Jaguar unveiled the Type 01 with much fanfare in New York earlier this week. The extraordinary all-electric, all-wheel-drive, 1,030-hp GT is a radical departure from the brand's styling history.
Body and Mind
Vanilla-derived compound shown to accelerate healing of chronic wounds
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Researchers based in Australia have found that Vanillin, the compound found in vanilla pods, is not only an aromatic flavoring agent for foods and perfumes, but it can also help treat chronic wounds.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Ford mini-camper van breaks into ultra-flexible electric camping
by C.C. Weiss
Ford has established itself as a leading badge in plug-in hybrid camper vans but not all-electric campers, despite having a solid e-van base. Wavecamper looks to change that with the Flex E-Line, a highly versatile E-Transit Custom camper van.
RoboticsEngineering
Tiny robot harvests battery power via skin on its feet
by Omar Kardoudi
Researchers have developed a paper-thin foot membrane that lets crawling microrobots harvest electricity directly from the ground beneath them, ditching heavy onboard batteries by turning metal and silicon surfaces into an active power source.
MotorcyclesTransport
New lightweight naked bike is ready to slice up streets like a scalpel
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
BMW's following up its F 450 GS adventure bike with a small-bore roadster to round out its entry-level lineup. The F 450 R features its sibling's powertrain in a naked frame that should make for exceptional maneuverability on city streets.
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Consumer TechTechnology
Brain-sensing headphones know when your focus starts to drift
by Monica J. White
Neurable One hides 12 EEG sensors inside premium ANC headphones to track focus and fatigue, turning brain activity into real-time biofeedback while still working as an everyday pair of wireless headphones.
Consumer TechTechnology
Microsoft rivals the MacBook Pro with an Nvidia chip and repairable design
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Microsoft has unveiled the most powerful laptop in its Surface range, and it'll take on the MacBook Pro for demanding work applications. If you're in the market for a higher-end machine, this one boasts an all-new processor and a repairable chassis.
Elsewhere
Abhimanyu Ghoshal has spotted a wild project that slices an old Ford Festiva in half, and extends it through the middle to create the widest street-legal car ever. Watch what it's like to build and drive a 10-ft wide hatchback on city streets.
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