🌎 New Atlas stories of the week

by David Szondy

Civilian supersonic flight may not have made its anticipated revival yet but there's still a need for speed as shown by Bombardier, which has announced that its Global 8000 business jet is entering service with a claimed top speed of Mach 0.95.

by Omar Kardoudi

ARIA – 'Anyone Repairs It Anywhere' – is more than a clever acronym. This prototype EV created by students at TU/ecomotive aims to convince the car industry and policymakers that sustainable, repairable vehicle design is commercially achievable.

by Abhimanyu Ghoshal

Inventor extraordinaire Colin Furze created a suspension system for a bicycle that, instead of springs or forks, uses opposing magnets fitted to a custom frame that keep him from feeling any bumps on the road. Surprisingly, it worked.

by Aaron Turpen

Honda redesigned the Passport for the 2026 model year, but kept the fundamentals that made this two-row crossover a great choice. Some of the changes, including the TrailSport model addition, improve on its capabilities without going overboard.

by Malcolm Azania

A new “audio shield” uses earbuds connected to hand-mounted microphones for hearing the subtle sounds of everyday tasks. The mechanism helps users block the perpetual hurricane of distractions and achieve mindfulness, reducing the effects of ADHD.

by Pranjal Malewar

Rising outdoor temperatures not only make nights uncomfortable but also deteriorate the quality of our sleep, according to a recent USC study. Researchers looked at the effects of heat on several aspects of sleep, and the results are sobering.

by Michael Franco

There's a well-established link between depression and chronic low-grade inflammation. Now, a new meta-study shows that treating the inflammation can reduce depression in two ways, offering a potential alternative to antidepressants and their side effects.

by Bronwyn Thompson

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated how tanning beds cause fundamental DNA damage across almost the skin's entire surface that results in a threefold risk of developing melanoma. It puts beyond doubt the dangers of using these devices.

by Adam Williams

Downsizing to a tiny house doesn't mean giving up all your home comforts. The Juniper, by Rewild Homes, leans into this idea and is arranged around a spacious single-floor layout that boasts a large bathroom with a full-sized bathtub.

by C.C. Weiss

After years of admiring iKamper as the modern innovator behind the expandable three/four-person rooftop tent (RTT), we think we've found a new favorite family-size RTT. The Vision XL from Topoak offers a thoughtful design for less than half the MSRP.

by Simon Heptinstall

Neat screw-together kit uses Grayl titanium water purifier to create a Seattle-style coffee stop anywhere in the world. The Coffee Press for GeoPress Ti is available now with or without a titanium cook lid.

by Ben Coxworth

When you're camping, you're typically in need of a work surface, plus you're typically surrounded by trees. That's where the Kimberlite Tree Table comes in, as – that's right – it's a packable multi-use platform that you strap to a tree.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Hangzhou is the latest city in China to take traffic control to a new level, rolling out its AI-powered robot police officer to direct vehicles and pedestrians at major intersections and issue polite warnings to law-breakers.

by Monica J. White

Could you imagine being able to "feel" the images on your screen? UCSB researchers have made this sci-fi-like idea a reality. They've developed a display where pixels physically rise off the surface when activated by laser light.

by Abhimanyu Ghoshal

Overview Energy, a Northern Virginia-based startup, has raised $20 million to fund its attempt at transmitting solar power from satellites down to solar panels on Earth, enabling a 24/7 supply.

by Adam Williams

Described as Europe's largest 3D-printed housing project, the Skovsporet development is currently underway in Denmark. A total of 36 student apartments have been built with remarkable speed, with more than one apartment per day printed.

by Jay Kakade

New research is adding to the body of evidence showing Neanderthals indulged in expressing abstract behavior, this time with archaeologists finding evidence of pencil-like crayons that were likely used to make symbolic art.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Deep in the growth rings of Pyrenean trees lies the strongest evidence yet for what set the Black Death in motion – a direct link between a sudden climate shift and the plague’s arrival in Europe, where it killed millions between 1347 and 1353.

by Shirl Leigh

In response to the current global cocoa shortage, a research team from the National University of Singapore has developed two innovative processes to improve the taste of carob pulp. The result could be a sustainable chocolate alternative.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Archeologists say they have solved the 6,000-year-old mystery of Armenia’s “dragon stones" – massive carved monoliths scattered across high-altitude slopes and pastures where no ancient settlements ever existed. It's a story of worship and water.