Features of the week
Consumer TechTechnology
If touchscreens won, why am I buying buttons?
by Howard Armitage
We were told touchscreens were the future. So why am I buying more buttons? From Stream Decks and smart homes to VW's return to physical controls, did we spend 20 years removing buttons only to spend the next 20 trying to put them back.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
4x4 camper van slides an entire room around to elevate off-grid life
by C.C. Weiss
With help from a transforming floor plan, the Bürstner Habiton X delivers longitudinal sleeping accommodations within a rugged, compact footprint. It's the perfect all-wheel drive camper van for off-road adventure.
MarineTransport
Habitable underwater pod blows open new world of subsea exploration
by Etiido Uko
Man has occupied the ISS, orbiting at about 248 miles above sea level, for 25 years. Meanwhile, the sea, sitting at sea level, hasn’t had a fixed station manned for up to a month. Researchers are seeking to change that, with a new subsea habitat.
Urban TransportTransport
Review: Skirting death and reaping the rewards on V9 electric unicycle
by Joe Salas
I've never been one to shy away from trying something new, even if it's dangerous, scary, intimidating, daunting, and all the other adjectives that would make most people go "Oh, heck no!" Electric unicycle? Challenge accepted.
This week’s newsletter sponsor
From Trails to Campsites: Three Kingbull E-Bikes Built for Summer Adventure
From relaxed campground rides to gear-hauling getaways and off-road exploration, Kingbull’s Ranger, Voyager 2.0, and Hunter 2.0S are built for different outdoor adventures—with limited-time summer savings.
Top Stories: Transport
Ferrari's 849 Testarossa Spider drops the top to fit 1,000 horses
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
We knew the 849 Testarossa Spider – the convertible version of Ferrari's new plug-in hybrid hypercar – was coming. It's similar in many ways to its coupe sibling. What we didn't expect is just how much more mojo this variant would bring to the table.
Norton Motorcycles amplifies comeback with gutsy adventure bike
by Utkarsh Sood
We got to ride the upcoming Norton Atlas in Iceland this past week. Around 125 miles of riding in the most adventure-biased terrain in the world gave us a pretty good idea of the adventure tourer, it's strengths and weaknesses. Read our full review.
Review: Toyota bZ makes big leap bumper to bumper, but is it enough?
by Aaron Turpen
Toyota's first real swing at a mainstream battery-electric vehicle, in the awkwardly named bZ4X, felt like it had been designed by committee. Did a name change improve things?
Twisted, loopy lock secures your whole bike ... 2 wheels and all
by Ben Coxworth
Locking your bicycle can be a hassle, as you often have to secure the frame and rear wheel via a U-lock, while using a cable lock (or similar) on the front wheel. The Cordalock is out to change that, as it's a single lock that secures the whole bike.
Special Promotion for New Atlas readers
A $200 MacBook Air is real, but supplies won’t last
Apple laptops don’t usually dip under $300, refurbished or otherwise, so take a look at this piece of fruit. It’s a 13-inch MacBook Air, grade-A refurbished, running an Intel Core i5 and rated for up to 12 hours on a charge.
Top stories: Body & Mind
Once-daily LDL cholesterol-smashing pill gets FDA approval
by Bronwyn Thompson
The US Food and Drug Administration has just approved a game-changing pill that can lower LDL cholesterol by around 60%. It's the first protein inhibitor to be made into a daily oral pill, doing away with the need for injections.
Criteria for MS have changed. Here’s what leading experts now outline
by Mike McRae
Two years ago, the list of signs and symptoms required to diagnose multiple sclerosis underwent a massive overhaul. Changing the definition of a disease is no small task and can have serious consequences for individuals requiring medical assistance.
Low back pain cut by 50% in first swimming clinical trial
by Bronwyn Thompson
In the first study of its kind, scientists have found that swimming can provide relief from chronic low back pain. The trial suggests this exercise is clinically effective for treating this hard-to-target condition.
Cell phones don't cause brain cancer, comprehensive study shows
by The Conversation
With the explosion of cell phone use over the past two decades, there has been particular concern over whether holding such devices to your ear may increase your risk of brain cancer. A new review finds no evidence that your phone will make you sick.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Spacious tiny house is designed with full-time living in mind
by Adam Williams
The Redwood tiny house makes downsizing easier with a spacious interior that's suitable for full-time living. The home opens up to the outside with two glazed entrances and has plenty of storage for everyday life.
Bullet-like teardrop camper spreads wings into high-power base camp
by C.C. Weiss
One of the fiercest, sharpest go-anywhere teardrop trailers roaming the Outback has gotten an upgrade. The 2026 Stockman Rover 2.0 takes on a new power system, new multi-awning setup, stealthy black-out look, and available entry-level trim.
Fast-split magnetic EDC tool takes a different tack on survival
by Maryna Holovnova
An emergency whistle is one of the simplest safety tools for the outdoors, and gear makers are trying to rethink the classic concept. This new whistle features a 3-in-1 design and claims to be heard through wind, traffic, and over long distances.
Crazy Chinese 2-story camper tower makes it to the US
by C.C. Weiss
Cinch Outdoors has moved off the ground and onto the vehicle, bringing Wild Land RV gear to the US market. It launches the Wingman as what's sure to be the US' largest, wildest pickup camping topper yet, available at a lower price than most toppers.
Special Promotion for New Atlas readers
Wake Up Smarter About AI.
Most people feel behind. But the people that don’t, aren’t smarter. They’re just better informed.
The Future Today is a daily news briefing for people who want clarity.
In one concise newsletter, you’ll get the most important tech news, learn why it matters, and what it signals about what’s coming next.
One email. Five Minutes. Stay ahead of 99% of the world.
Top Stories: Technology
Review: $750 robot mower handles lawns like its pricy peers
by Bronwyn Thompson
Anthbot's M9 is a surprisingly adept mower, mastering lawns of up to a quarter of an acre for a fraction of the price of its famous competitors. And, importantly, it's incredibly easy to use, making it a great option for those new to home-robot life.
Tiny drone hits invisible mode by twisting faster than eye can detect
by Omar Kardoudi
Engineers have built a drone that vanishes without camouflage or transparent panels. Its trick is spinning so fast that your eyes simply give up trying to focus, a stealth edge that could turn surveillance into something almost invisible.
Sony makes us wait 9 years for new superzoom bridge camera
by Monica J. White
Sony's RX10 V ends a nine-year wait for a new all-in-one superzoom, keeping the 24-600mm Zeiss lens while adding Alpha-grade subject recognition, 30-fps bursts, 4K 120p video, and a much bigger battery.
Smart multi-sensor kit simplifies home fermentation
by Shirl Leigh
From Smokpub, makers of a compact electric cocktail and whisky smoker, comes the Doubot, a sourdough fermentation system currently on Kickstarter. They claim it's “a smarter way to proof dough” for the novice baker second-guessing their technique.
Top Stories: Science
Princesses in Ancient Egypt were trained in their grave weapons
by Mike McRae
A re-evaluation of 4,000-year-old skeletal remains that include a family of six sibling princesses has revealed signs of illness and physical wear and tear that point to proficiency in weapons.
Hidden chemistry of nuclear fallout glimpsed in recent experiments
by Pranjal Malewar
A new study shows that a material's “thermal history” is critical in shaping how its chemistry evolves in complex systems such as nuclear debris.
Little red dots from long ago could be source of mystery neutrinos
by Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo
A new study proposes a likely suspect: Little Red Dots, which were discovered by the James Webb Telescope a few years ago.
New clues to 2,000-year-old game played by millions before vanishing
The unearthing of 2,000-year-old boards has given historians a new insight into an ancient game akin to chess that was played much earlier, by everyone from royals to commoners in society – before it seemingly vanished from society.
Let us know what you’d like more or less of in this weekly roundup - just reply to this email and we’ll take it on board!
Get your next issue ad-free – and support our work – join New Atlas Plus!
|
