Features of the week
ArchitectureTechnology
World's new tallest building nears major construction milestone
by Adam Williams
Construction on the new world's tallest skyscraper is rapidly approaching a major milestone. Saudi Arabia's JEC Tower is racing towards 100 floors, making it another step closer to achieving its projected 2028 completion date.
Camping TrailersAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Honda forays into the camper world with this sleek, futuristic trailer
by Ben Coxworth
When you think of trailer companies, Honda probably isn't the first name that comes to mind. Nonetheless, the automaker has just revealed its prototype Base Station travel trailer, which can be towed by a compact SUV as small as a Honda CR-V.
AutomotiveTransport
Drone on wheels: Radical redesign smashes world R/C car speed record
by Loz Blain
A British hobbyist has applied multicopter drone thinking to radically simplify the steering and powertrain of his high-performance radio-control car – and absolutely demolished the world top speed record in the process.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Westfalia's cheapest US-ready camper van is more than it appears
by C.C. Weiss
On the very first day of this year's Florida RV Supershow, Westfalia debuted its most focused product yet: a roomy camper van designed quite specifically for TWO adventurous road-trippers. It's even called the "For 2." But is it really?
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Top Stories: Transport
World's favorite indestructible Toyota pickup truck gets full revamp
by C.C. Weiss
During over 50 years on the global market, the Toyota Hilux has sold more than 27 million units and been identified as the most indestructible passenger vehicle out there. Now, it evolves into its 9th generation, welcoming new capabilities and tech.
A million dollar Honda motorcycle? Maybe two?
by Mike Hanlon
It took many decades for collectible Japanese motorcycles to get any respect on the auction block. It was 2009 before a Japanese motorcycle first topped the USD$100,000 mark at public auction, but collector generational change is inevitable, and Honda has now been the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959 and today’s collectors are finally beginning to correctly frame the company in historical perspective.
Rideshare without sharing in this autonomous taxi
by Omar Kardoudi
Startup Pliyt wants to revolutionize urban transportation with a rideshare where nobody sees or bothers you. Its autonomous taxi has four pods designed to create an experience of privacy and comfort that makes even the most introverted feel at home.
Novel e-trike stays on the rails for maximum comfort and flexibility
by Paul Ridden
Whether you're just looking for a more stable ride, or something a bit more comfortable than your average ebike, a pedal-assist trike could be a good shout. The Chill from Trike Bike includes a few features not common in the three-wheeled world.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Longevity boost from exercise possible in minutes – not marathons
by Michael Franco
Two new large studies have confirmed that it doesn't take Olympic-level efforts to harness the life-extending power of exercise. In fact, say the researchers, even just five minutes a day can have a profound impact on your health and longevity.
FDA-approved ADHD brain device fails to outperform placebo
by Bronwyn Thompson
The first-of-a-kind brain-stimulation device approved to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the US has had its efficacy questioned, with scientists believing that its Food and Drug Administration approval was based on poor science.
Light successfully retunes the brain’s faulty wiring
by Chelsea Haney
A tool long used to probe neural circuits in the lab is now being floated as a new way to treat human patients. The technique uses light to turn specific neurons on or off, and it could be used to treat everything from chronic pain to epilepsy.
Humans stopped producing our own Vitamin C to fight parasitic infections
by Jay Kakade
Most mammals produce their own Vitamin C but around 60 million years ago, humans lost this ability. New research suggests this was not an innocuous evolutionary shift but actually a clever defense against the parasitic infections.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Hyundai's otherworldly camper van takes aim at VW California
by C.C. Weiss
Hyundai's futuristic Staria van has been destined to make a cool, little camper since it debuted in 2021. Now, Hyundai is previewing a potential Staria camper van for Europe. And it looks good enough to take on the VW California and Ford Nugget.
Flexible tiny house can be configured from ultra-small to apartment size
by Adam Williams
Designed with flexibility in mind, Indigo River Tiny Homes' IndigoGo! is a single-floor tiny house. It's available in a range of sizes and configurations, from ultra-small all the way up to apartment-sized.
Jetbeam packs five different lights into one sleek palm-sized tool
by Michael Franco
Calling the Jetbeam E28 a "flashlight" is almost a disservice, as the gizmo can pump out five different light sources and serve as a battery bank to charge your devices. It's currently blasting through its Kickstarter campaign with just a few days left.
New Ford Nugget camper van goes old school with splash of retro
by C.C. Weiss
The Ford Nugget may forever have the spirit of a carefree 22-year-old, but the camper van is actually turning the big 4-0 this year. To celebrate, Ford Pro is kicking off 2026 with a special edition styled to match the original Nugget from 1986.
Top Stories: Technology
Watch: World's fastest drone hits 408 mph to reclaim speed record
by Stefan Ionescu
Father-son duo Luke and Mike Bell, from Cape Town, South Africa, have set a new quadcopter drone speed world record. Their Peregreen V4 drone clocked a top speed of 657.59 km/h (408 mph) to reclaim their Guinness World Record.
TCL TV pushes Mini LED displays closer to the limits of human vision
by Monica J. White
TCL has unveiled the world’s first TV powered by SQD-Mini LED technology, delivering extreme brightness, precise color control, and over 20,000 dimming zones in a massive, ultra-thin display that pushes closer than ever to the BT.2020 color standard.
Review: Liquid-cooling phone delivers mighty game power and battery life
by Bronwyn Thompson
We previewed the RedMagic 11 Pro last year, but with any technology it feels better to have a real-world, lived experience with it. And while this phone isn't an all-rounder, its gaming capabilities and insane battery life demonstrate its strengths.
Autonomous helicopter built to hunt submarines takes first flight
by David Szondy
The Royal Navy highlighted its Hybrid Air Wing and Atlantic Bastion strategy as Leonardo’s full-scale Proteus autonomous helicopter completed its maiden flight on January 16, marking a key step toward mixed crewed and uncrewed operations.
Top Stories: Science
Could glowing green skin be an alternative to blood sampling?
by Ben Coxworth
Blood sampling is painful, plus it only tells you what's going on in the patient's body right when the sample is taken. So, how about this? Permanent skin grafts that glow green when specific biomarker chemicals are present in the bloodstream.
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