Features of the week
Alzheimer's & DementiaBrain HealthBody and Mind
Common eye bug adds to growing links between infection and dementia
by Bronwyn Thompson
Scientists have uncovered an intriguing link between infection and brain health, finding that a common bacterium may advance cognitive decline. It's the latest evidence suggesting that bacteria and infections play a key role in destroying our brains.
MilitaryTechnology
Titanium-foam blended-wing fighter smashes rivals on the spec sheet
by David Szondy
There's a new contender for the US Navy's F/A-XX Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and it looks like something out of Batman's hangar thanks to a peculiar triple-fuselage design.
Camping TrailersAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Sub-1,000-lb teardrop pod brilliantly fuses new & old school RV design
by C.C. Weiss
The Trailpod camping trailer flips the calendar back to a simpler time when the off-road teardrop was a small, ageless and affordable gateway to global adventure. But it's more than meets the eye, concealing a modern, zero-wood build.
MaterialsTechnology
Wood scraps turn 'useless' desert sand into concrete
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
A team of researchers might soon have you walking on desert sand, no matter how far from the dunes you might live. This group of engineers has developed a method to transform it into a new construction material that's perfect for pavements.
Top Stories: Transport
Blended-wing Horizon Evo aircraft goes double-decker
by David Szondy
As US-based aerospace manufacturer Natilus secures US$28 million in additional financing, the company has revealed the latest supersized version of its Horizon blended-wing airliner that upgrades the basic design into a double-decker for cargo.
Hydrofoiling electric ferry completes record 160-nautical-mile voyage
by Stefan Ionescu
The "world’s first serial-production electric hydrofoil ferry" – the Candela P-12 – has completed a record-breaking voyage from Gothenburg in Sweden to Oslo in Norway, clocking up 160 nautical miles over the epic three-day journey.
Velocitor X-1 eVTOL could be beating the traffic in just a year
by Ben Coxworth
3D commuting, that's the dream. Soaring over stopped traffic in a lightweight, quiet, safe personal eVTOL aircraft. The Velocitor X-1 joins a growing list of such machines, and it's slated to enter production within a year.
Review: 2026 Mazda3 hatchback refines a winning formula
by Aaron Turpen
If you’ve followed Mazda over the years, you know the 3 has always been the brand’s emotional core. For 2026, Mazda’s latest Mazda 3 Hatchback continues that tradition.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
What if multiple sclerosis isn't just one disease?
by Chelsea Haney
A new study challenges the idea MS is just one single disease presenting evidence it may actually follow two distinct biological pathways. It’s a shift that could reshape how clinicians think about diagnoses, disease progression and treatment strategy.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Frontier-smashing camper hides rustic lodge inside shimmering shell
by C.C. Weiss
Bowlus' all-new Frontier Edition takes the brand's most powerful trailer to new aesthetic heights, warming up the interior of the riveted-aluminum fuselage with a rustic cabin inspired by the ranches and pioneer homesteads of the American West.
Firehouse-inspired tiny house even includes its own brass pole
by Adam Williams
This charming tiny house is designed to resemble a miniature firehouse. Along with its novel appearance, it features a compact but well-designed interior that has lots of firefighter-related touches, including an antique fire pole.
Ski survival tool keeps avalanche victims breathing safely 5x longer
by Michael Franco
The SBX backpack system from Safeback is designed to pull and deliver oxygen from snow if the wearer is buried by an avalanche, thus increasing their survival time. A group of intrepid volunteers has now proven how well the system works.
Polaris sharpens flagship RZR SxS via industry-first suspension setup
by C.C. Weiss
Not long ago, the Polaris RZR Pro R was the pinnacle of retail side-by-side domination. But now it's not even the flagship of the RZR family. The all-new RZR Pro R Ultra Edition attacks all means of unimproved earth via an industry-first suspension.
Top Stories: Technology
She walks, shows emotion, holds eye contact and is warm – but she's a robot
by Bronwyn Thompson
Shanghai robotics startup DroidUp has launched what it calls "a beautifully designed and expressive bionic robot" that is touted as "the world's first highly bionic robot that deeply integrates human aesthetics and advanced humanoid movement."
Titanium-foam blended-wing fighter smashes rivals on the spec sheet
by David Szondy
There's a new contender for the US Navy's F/A-XX Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and it looks like something out of Batman's hangar thanks to a peculiar triple-fuselage design.
End of the Line? Futuristic Saudi megacity facing major redesign
by Adam Williams
The Line is the most ambitious and eye-catching part of Saudi Arabia's incredible construction boom. However, the futuristic megacity is reportedly now undergoing a major rethink and looks likely to be significantly reduced in scope.
Wall-hugging laser projector promises pixel-perfect big-screen watching
by Paul Ridden
AWOL Vision has launched a new projector designed to deliver 4K sharpness and definition when scaled large. The Aetherion UST tri-laser entertainment hub promises "a 200-inch Dolby Vision, triple-laser cinema for less than the cost of a premium TV."
Top Stories: Science
8,000-year-old pottery suggests math predates writing
by Jay Kakade
We generally associate the origins of mathematical thinking with the emergence of writing but a new study challenges this assumption looking at floral designs found on the pottery sherds across northern Mesopotamia, dating back 8000 years.
New technique targets 'sweet spot' to destroy bacteria
by Michael Franco
Researchers have discovered a certain kind of sugar that is only found on the surface of bacteria. Targeting it could lead to an entirely new class of immunotherapeutic drugs designed to target and eliminate at least one deadly, drug-resistant bug.
Forests glow under UV light, and deer can see it
by Jay Kakade
For the first time, researchers have tracked how deer use photoluminescent markers as signposts on trees to communicate with one another. Their unique visual acuity allows them to see in ultraviolet wavelengths invisible to human eyes.
Starlink moonlights as satellite traffic cop
by David Szondy
SpaceX's Starlink communications satellite constellation is doing double duty as the company announces that it's moonlighting as the Stargaze Space Situational Awareness system that can track and manage traffic in low Earth orbit.
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