Features of the week
MotorcyclesTransport
Yamaha's latest prototype bikes are truly wild works in progress
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Yamaha is revealing six mobility concepts this month, but perhaps the most striking of the bunch is the Motoroid:Λ. This is the evolution of a self-balancing motorcycle prototype Yamaha first revealed in 2017 with a futuristic design.
ObesityIllnesses and conditionsBody and Mind
New obesity drug boosts GLP-1 weight loss without added side effects
by Paul McClure
A new class of weight-loss drug has shown it can significantly boost weight loss when paired with GLP-1 therapy – without adding side effects – in a mid-stage clinical trial, pointing to a powerful new combination approach to tackling obesity.
GearOutdoors
Swiss battery-electric cube toilet telescopes at camp for comfy poops
by C.C. Weiss
Clesana recently introduced one of the most user-friendly portable toilets out there. The X1 uses a telescopic body to lift to residential-grade height and a dry flush system to auto-process waste for easy disposal. All you have to do is sit and ...
ADHD & AutismBrain HealthBody and Mind
Adults with ADHD should use this overlooked tactic to boost wellbeing
by Bronwyn Thompson
A first-of-its-kind study has found that recognizing – and using – personal strengths is linked with better physical and psychological wellbeing and fewer mental-health challenges in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Top Stories: Transport
Honda's latest adventure scooter comes with a folding table
by Utkarsh Sood
The Honda Sundiro Square X125 is one of the most interesting scooters we've seen in a while. It’s an off-road utilitarian scooter that’s unlike others in its category. And that’s not just because of the folding table.
Electric UTV combines all-terrain workhorse with low-speed city hauler
by Paul Ridden
Following the launch of a compact low-speed ambulance in July, California's GEM has unveiled an electric utility truck that's designed to haul gear through the neighborhood before heading to wilder work sites.
eHang's pilotless eVTOL air taxi takes flight with 125-mile range
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
eHang is throwing down the gauntlet in the air taxi space with the unveiling of its autonomous VT35 eVTOL. This long-range aircraft took to the skies ahead of an official launch event today in China, and you can see it in action.
The brakes on your next bike might be made of 100% recycled aluminum
by Utkarsh Sood
You don’t become one of the world’s top motorcycle component manufacturers for nothing. Brembo's new 100% recycled aluminum brake calliper reduces brake caliper life cycle emissions by up to 70% without sacrificing performance or design. A clear win-win.
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This MacBook Air is sleek, powerful, and under $400
Apple makes some of the best laptops around, and the lightweight, ultra-portable MacBook Air packs a ton of function into one sleek package.
Top stories: Body & Mind
Next-gen vaccine prevents up to 88% of multiple aggressive cancers
by Paul McClure
A next-generation cancer vaccine has shown stunning results in mice, preventing up to 88% of aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers by harnessing dual-pathway nanoparticles that train the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells.
Green tea trains muscles to handle sugar better and boost metabolism
by Bronwyn Thompson
Compounds in green tea can reprogram muscle metabolism to boost insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, according to new findings that further our understanding of why this ancient drink has long been linked to protect against obesity.
Natural sweetener found to turbocharge baldness treatment
by Michael Franco
While the topical application of minoxidil is one of the most effective and popular ways to combat male pattern baldness, it is poorly absorbed by the skin. Looking to improve its efficacy, researchers have turned to an unlikely but very sweet ally.
Chagas disease: The silent killer creeping into US homes and kennels
by Paul McClure
Once confined to Latin America, Chagas disease – a potentially deadly parasitic infection that is spread in a gross way – is now endemic in the United States, threatening both humans and their pets in what experts are calling a silent public health crisis.
Top Stories: Outdoor
700-lb teardrop-toadstool truck camper starts at just $12,000
by C.C. Weiss
The Grumpy Bear Arctos Sport pickup camper looks like a half a toadstool, or a teardrop trailer body on a pedestal. Its distinctive but simple form fits neatly in the truck and gives buyers a transformable interior for sleeping, eating and relaxing.
Ultra-packable sub-2-lb tent uses your bike as part of the frame
by Ben Coxworth
If you're going bikepacking – off-road bicycle camping – you'll want to keep your load as light and compact as possible. That's where the super-svelte bikepacking-specific Apex1 tent comes in, as it actually uses your bike to hold it fully upright.
Two-bedroom family home condensed into 30-ft tiny house
by Adam Williams
Despite its length of just 30 ft, this compact tiny house, by Big Freedom Tiny Homes, makes room for a small family. The model also packs in a relatively large kitchen and even has space for guests to sleep over.
Collapsible magnetic multi-lamp unfurls into every light you need
by C.C. Weiss
Outask has advanced its pocketable light into a versatile multitool with many uses for home and in the field. The TD2 triples light output inside a multi-axis chassis that makes it a pocket flashlight, table lamp, magnetic work light and more.
Top Stories: Technology
Watch: Figure 03 – The Model T of robots?
by David Szondy
Figure AI has given us a look at its idea of the robotic equivalent of the Model T as it rolls out its Figure 3 humanoid robot – the company's third-generation bipedal autonomous machine designed for general purpose work that's built for mass production.
World's first carpet-washing robot is an all-in-one "hands-off" workhorse
by Bronwyn Thompson
The Robotin R2 is billed as the world’s first fully autonomous carpet-cleaning robot, combining vacuuming, washing and smart drying in one compact, low-maintenance system. You can get the unit for just US$799 – nearly half its expected retail price.
Fusion device fires “super-lightning” pulses 12 times a minute
by David Szondy
Living up to its name, University of Washington spin-off company ZAP Energy's Century system is developing fusion power technology by blasting plasma with super-lightning-like pulses 12 times per minute, without relying on superconducting magnets or laser beams.
Sound-personalized wireless earphones get solid-state help in the highs
by Paul Ridden
A couple of year's back, audio gear brand Creative was the first company to pop solid-state speaker technology from xMEMS in a pair of wireless earphones. Now the company has added sound personalization to the mix.
Top Stories: Science
When atoms go rogue: High-entropy MXenes defy materials logic
by Chelsea Haney
By breaking the rules of atomic order, scientists have created a material unlike any seen before. Nine metals share a single atom-thin sheet, their layers dissolved into a patchwork of possibility. The result could redefine how we design materials.
What losing does to your brain on a molecular level
by Bronwyn Thompson
We've all experienced defeat at some point – losing a game, a potential new job, a debate. Now, a new study has found that the brain may learn from losing to others, with a specific group of neurons tied to defeat that then changes our future behavior.
Beached dolphins show signs of Alzheimer's due to polluted waters
by Pranjal Malewar
A new study found stranded dolphins show brain damage eerily similar to that of people with Alzheimer's. Just like people with dementia sometimes wander far from home, scientists think dolphins with Alzheimer's might get confused at sea.
Hydraulic haptic mice could have us squeezing sacks of water
by Ben Coxworth
Input devices such as computer mice may be rigid for now, but thanks to new hydraulic haptic tech they could someday be soft n' squishy. And that's not all … they may also "throb" in our hand to provide tactile feedback as we use them.
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