Features of the week
DronesConsumer TechTechnology
Apex Recordhunter becomes the world's fastest electric drone
by Omar Kardoudi
A German electric drone recently hit 699 km/h, an unofficial speed world record. Its maker, Quantum Systems, says the engineering will feed its own interceptor program, built alongside Ukraine's WIY Drones, aimed at stopping Russian attacks.
ArchitectureEngineering
Extraordinary tower emerges from stack of mossy boulders
by Adam Williams
You could be forgiven for thinking that this extraordinary design was dreamed up for the set of some kind of sci-fi movie. However, it's actually a real proposal for a major new mixed-use cultural building.
WearablesConsumer TechTechnology
Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide offers heated-massage recovery
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Nike is back adding tech to your footwear with its new massaging slide. Developed in partnership with Hyperice, which makes a range of muscle relief gear, it's aimed at athletes looking for effective recovery after strenuous activity.
SportsConsumer TechTechnology
Review: Ball-catching tennis robot rallies with you like a human
by Bronwyn Thompson
The Acemate S10 is one of the most ambitious tennis training products to hit the market. Unlike a ball machine, this robot coach is designed to act more like a human – zipping across the court to catch your return, then firing a ball back at you.
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Top Stories: Transport
Airbus unveils 'Wing of Tomorrow' folding wings project
by David Szondy
Airbus has announced an upcoming flight-test phase for its Wing of Tomorrow program. The project aims to develop next-generation airliner wings so long that they will need to fold at the tip to operate at existing commercial airports.
1,113-hp Galaxy Cruiser hybrid SUV redefines off-road power
by Utkarsh Sood
There was a time when boxy SUVs were slow, lumbering machines that traded speed for the ability to crawl over rocks and wade through rivers. Today, the likes of Geely want one that can do all of that and embarrass a supercar at the traffic lights.
Archer Aviation debuts Halo autonomous VTOL, Thunder's commercial twin
by David Szondy
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In aviation circles, the debate is often which came first: the military or civilian variant? Case in point: Archer Aviation's announcement at Farnborough of Halo, the civilian counterpart to the Thunder autonomous attack aircraft.
Review: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is an affordable electric car we'll miss
by Aaron Turpen
Back in 2023, Chevrolet quietly sent the struggling Bolt to the proverbial junkyard in the sky. Now it’s back, but for only the 2027 model year, Chevy says. That’s sad because this is a really good EV.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Genetically modified hookworms could protect against deadly pufferfish toxin
by Jay Kakade
Hookworms are freeloaders that live at the host’s expense inside their gut, drinking about two drops of blood per day. This parasite could soon pay its way with engineered hookworms serving as living medicine factories.
AI medical scribe consent raises patient rights concerns
by Howard Armitage
An AI present in your consultation promises better notes, less admin and more time for patients, but what exactly is being recorded, where does the data go, and did anyone really ask for your consent?
Top Stories: Outdoor
Westfalia's latest camper van packs in a bunk room and dry bathroom
by C.C. Weiss
Westfalia is riding a wave of hyper creativity, hitting this year's Caravan Salon with not one but two innovative camper vans with next-generation layouts. The Nansen 600L squeezes a pair of double bunk beds and a dry bathroom into a sub-6-m Ducato.
Non-towable tiny house embraces simplicity on a single floor
by Adam Williams
This non-towable tiny house isn't intended for full-time small living. Instead, it's a modular home that provides a simple stripped-down retreat, focusing on the basics needed for use as a guesthouse or for a short escape.
Heone-X drone provides powerful, long-lasting campsite lighting
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
I know, I know. This product sounds like it solves one of those informercial-ly non-problems. But hear me out: the Heone-X is actually kind of cool if you do a lot of camping. This drone hovers above your campsite to illuminate it for hours.
Chinese luxury SUV transforms into a camper at push of a button
by Bronwyn Thompson
Almost a month after Huawei executive Richard Yu (aka Yu Chengdong, 余承东), posted a cryptic message on his official Weibo social media account, it seems China is about to make waves in the competitive auto field of off-road SUVs.
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Top Stories: Technology
Domesticating AI: Why vibe coding feels like cheating
by Howard Armitage
Teaching an AI assistant to answer to “Yaffle” became an unexpected lesson in vibe coding. It’s a look at why programmers are uneasy, how tech history is repeating itself, and how AI is quietly changing who gets to create.
MouthPad turns your tongue into a wireless trackpad
by Maryna Holovnova
Augmental’s new invention is more than just another experiment with computer mouse design. It is a tongue-controlled touchpad that gives people with limited mobility a new way to interact with computers and smart devices hands-free.
A deep take for detecting deepfakes
by Malcolm Azania
New AI detection system RealorRender offers increased accuracy and transparency classifying images as deepfakes or authentic. The innovation offers hope to businesses, governments, and individuals targeted by fraudsters, extortionists, and stalkers.
Review: Bedtime bone-conducting speakers are now twice as good
by Bronwyn Thompson
If you're someone who likes to fall asleep listening to sound, be it a podcast, music or a rainy soundscape, your options have been limited if you want to avoid next-day ear pain or disturbing anyone you share a bed with. This company has a solution.
Top Stories: Science
Rare 'cotton candy' planet discovery may be the super puffiest ever seen
by Chris Young
An international team led by researchers from the University of Oxford has discovered two of the lowest-density giant planets on record.
Penguins carry forever chemicals in their feathers
by Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo
Sixteen different PFAS compounds have been discovered in the feathers of Antarctic penguins, demonstrating that the insidious spread of "forever chemicals" now reaches the most remote wildlife on Earth.
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