Features of the week
EnvironmentScience
Most radioactive site in US is moving on from the Manhattan Project
by Chelsea Haney
A nuclear production facility in Washington state, called the Hanford site, once forged the plutonium that reshaped the world. Now it’s forging glass; a quiet act of undoing at one of Earth’s most contaminated sites.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Nissan's brilliant light camper smooshes 4 vans into 1 everyday driver
by C.C. Weiss
Nissan has long offered a few commercial van staples, and in markets not named "USA," it's also developed some very intriguing factory camper vans and concepts. The all-new Primastar Flexvan is both, and it's designed to get all the things done.
BiologyScience
First-ever footage: Orcas use dolphins as 'radar-equipped scouts'
by Michael Franco
For the first time ever, a unique cooperative hunting arrangement between dolphins and orcas has been documented. Researchers believe killer whales find salmon by tailing dolphins, who in turn benefit from bite-sized fish pieces.
AircraftTransport
Radial-flux motors supercharge new hybrid supersonic engine design
by David Szondy
It may seem like a horse-drawn Zeppelin, but Astro Mechanica seems to be all-in on its revolutionary hybrid-electric supersonic jet engine as it partnered with UK-based engineering firm Helix to add high-energy density radial-flux motors to the tech.
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Top Stories: Transport
Fastest civilian jet enters service at near-supersonic speed
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.
Students challenge auto industry with modular EV you can fix yourself
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.
Watch: Mad scientist swaps bicycle suspension springs for magnets
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.
Review: 2026 Honda Passport is quietly confident
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.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
ADHD 'audio shield' turns sounds from daily tasks into powerful focus tool
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.
Rising temperatures are quietly cutting into Americans' sleep
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.
Surprising depression fighter revealed: Anti-inflammatories
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.
Tanning beds mutate nearly your entire skin and triple melanoma risk
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.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Extra-wide tiny house adds apartment comfort to small-space living
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.
Expandable aluminum rooftop tent might be the best value in US: Review
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.
Titanium water filter bottle doubles as a backpack barista
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.
Legless camping table stashes like a water bottle, clings to the trees
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.
Top Stories: Technology
Watch: China has a new AI humanoid robot in charge of traffic control
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.
Futuristic pixel-raising display lets you feel what’s onscreen
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.
Space startup wants to turn satellites into 24/7 solar transmitters
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.
One apartment per day: Student housing gets 3D printed crazy fast
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.
Top Stories: Science
Ancient innovation: Neanderthals put a lot of thought into their crayons
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.
Trees hold the secret to the deadly plague that ripped through Europe
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.
'Healthy chocolate' can now taste like the real thing
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.
Armenia’s ancient 'dragon stones' are the work of a 6,000-year-old water cult
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.
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