Features of the week
ArchitectureTechnology
Heavenly design: Concrete church hailed world's best new building
by Adam Williams
An eye-catching concrete church has taken the top honor at this year's World Architecture Festival. The project impressed judges with its rugged design, clever use of light, and community focused approach.
RVs and MotorhomesAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
You won't believe what this waterless camper toilet does with urine
by C.C. Weiss
We've heard of off-grid toilets that macerate, compost, incinerate and electro-wrap. We even stumbled on one that "super-composts." We guess we should have expected one that turns pee into a fine fog ... but we did not. Inspired or insane?
HistoryScience
Ancient Maya monument discovery rewrites the history books
by Pranjal Malewar
For a long time, archaeologists believed large buildings required large bosses. It was simple: only societies with strong hierarchies (kings and slaves) could organize massive construction projects. But a new discovery in the Maya region is rewriting that story.
Urban TransportTransport
Bosch-powered tilting e-trike keeps flatbed cargo on the level
by Paul Ridden
A few years back, BMW teamed up with Cube and SoFlow to prototype a funky leaning cargo e-trike as part of a mobility expo. Cube subsequently launched the concept as the Trike Hybrid in 2023, and has now added a flatbed variant to the range.
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Top Stories: Transport
360-rotational marine e-thruster pod promises 70% drag decrease
by C.C. Weiss
Helix builds some of the most power-dense electric motors in the world. Now it's working to springboard that compact, power-packed design into a marine pod drive ecosystem it believes will help change the face of everyday boating.
Review: 2025 VW Jetta is a reliable daily driver ... with a few drawbacks
by Aaron Turpen
VW added a mild refresh to the Jetta to update its looks a bit, but has otherwise not messed with the car’s basic formula of getting you there on the cheap. Sadly, though, the manual transmission is only available on the sport-centric GLI model.
Archer acquires Los Angeles airport for use as electric air-taxi hub
by Michael Franco
Amid a flurry of announcements showing that it's going from strength to strength, electric vertical takeoff and landing maker Archer has said it's purchasing an airport in Los Angeles from which its futuristic vehicles will launch and land.
Honda unveils V3R 900 prototype with unique electric compressor system
by Utkarsh Sood
Honda has revealed the V3R 900 E-Compressor Prototype, following up on the electronically-blown forced induction V3 motor that it introduced at last year’s EICMA. Honda states it’s a 900cc motor with the "performance of a 1,200cc engine."
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Natural compound rejuvenates aging cells in just 28 days
by Bronwyn Thompson
Researchers have demonstrated how a secret weapon made in the gut, produced by consuming pomegranate and walnuts, can rejuvenate the immune system in middle age, shielding us from cell damage, inflammation and chronic diseases including cancer.
Are bananas the worst ingredient for smoothie nutrition?
by Maryna Holovnova
Fruit smoothies have become a huge trend in healthy lifestyle world – and for good reason. They are a quick source of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, and they take just a few minutes to make! Bananas are the number-one ingredient for a good smoothie. Creamy and naturally sweet, they seem to pair well with pretty much every other fruit ... or do they?
Injectable weight-loss drug helps shift stubborn pounds post-surgery
by Paul McClure
Some people don’t lose enough weight after bariatric surgery, but a new study shows that adding a daily shot of GLP-1 drug liraglutide can help patients shed extra pounds and may reduce the need for further surgery.
Could this protein be a secret weapon in the fight against depression?
by Malcolm Azania
Survivors of childhood trauma experience high risk for depression. If they have high levels of SGK1 in their brain tissue, they’re at greater risk. Combined with genetic screening for the protein, SGK1 inhibitors could be a life-saving intervention.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Transforming interior makes 172-sq-ft tiny house surprisingly livable
by Adam Williams
The Sofia tiny house measures 172 sq ft and is suitable for one or two people to live off-grid full-time. Its interior features a clever space-saving layout that maximizes space.
Modular camping cube airs up into mega glamper hut in 4 minutes flat
by C.C. Weiss
Alphago's stretched, oversized The Cube glamping tent features an air tube frame designed to inflate within minutes at the push of a button. Want to make a cube city? Simply zip multiple tents together into a sprawling air-beam compound.
This one-bedroom tiny house was 3D-printed in just one week
by Adam Williams
3D-printed architecture has evolved at lightning speed – and the pace shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. A recent example of this is a non-towable tiny house that was printed in just one week.
Collab Swiss Army knife gets optimized for most essential EDC staple
by C.C. Weiss
We've all heard of the waiter's corkscrew, but a barista's Swiss Army knife? Victorinox has teamed up with La Marzocco to create a special-edition multitool that combines timeless Swiss Army standards with specialist coffee tools.
Top Stories: Technology
How 2025's most famous astrophotograph was shot
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
No, it's not AI. What you're looking at above is a skydiver framed by the roiling chromosphere of the Sun. That's the result of weeks of meticulous planning, a whole lot of astrophotography know-how, plenty of math, and patience.
Why power Mars rovers with nuclear batteries when charging mats will do?
by Malcolm Azania
Bumblebee Power is changing the space race with wireless charging technology suitable for missions to Mars. It’s one giant step for the impact of space-tech entrepreneurs, and even more surprising for a company advertising tech for charging phones.
'AI industry is in a bubble' warns Google DeepMind co-founder
by Bronwyn Thompson
This week, talk of the AI bubble bursting has intensified with Google top executive Demis Hassabis throwing some fuel on the fire while discussing the release of the tech company's Gemini 3 model. He also thinks some players will weather the storm.
Nuclear waste may hold the key to greener hydrogen production
by David Szondy
Nuclear waste and a hydrogen economy may seem poles apart, but a new study by the University of Sharjah claims that spent fuel from nuclear power plants could be used to increase the efficiency of converting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Top Stories: Science
Turkey tail mushroom provides alternative to single-use plastic wrap
by Shirl Leigh
A recently published study shows promising results from combining edible turkey tail fungus with a solution of wood fibers. The end product is a natural sustainable waterproof coating that may be be a replacement for single-use plastic food wrap.
Six-million-year-old Antarctic ice offers rare glimpse into Earth's past
by Pranjal Malewar
Antarctica's ice cores are like frozen diaries of Earth's past. Most continuous records go back about 800,000 years. But in a region called the Allan Hills, a special patch of blue ice holds reveals snapshots dating back as far as 6 million years.
Meet the parasitic invader that tricks ants into killing their own queen
by Jay Kakade
A stealthy parasite queen can turn an ant colony against itself. The invading queen has been found to sneak into an ant colony, creep towards the resident ant queen, and spray a chemical that tricks ants into slaughtering their own mother.
Seagulls don’t respect you until you speak up, according to science
by Bronwyn Thompson
You won't find us endorsing aggression towards animals very often, however, scientists have discovered that raising your voice to seagulls – especially if you're male – will make them think twice about stealing your food. It's simply science.
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