Features of the week
AI and HumanoidsTechnology
US-China AI 'arms race' in for a major shake-up as early as January
by Bronwyn Thompson
Chinese tech giant Huawei has made a bold move in the AI "race," announcing that its next-gen AI chip to rival Nvidia will be out as early as the start of 2027. This could release China from the restrictions the US has imposed on its AI development.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Kia iCamper pumps serious versatility into all-electric tiny camping
by C.C. Weiss
When we took a look at the Wellhouse Kia iCamper, it was still under construction. Now, Wellhouse has completed the first iCamper and launched its take on all-electric PV5 van life. We'd say it's the most flexible, functional PV5 camper van yet.
Tiny HousesOutdoors
A-frame tiny house makes room for a family of four
by Adam Williams
The A-frame Bunkhouse is designed for a good time, not a long time. The tiny house features an extra-wide interior layout that's arranged on one floor and sleeps a family in comfort during their vacations.
MarineTransport
Heavy hauling goes hybrid: Self-unloading cargo ship cuts emissions
by Simon Heptinstall
The maritime sector is under pressure to clean up its act. A new hybrid self-loading cargo ship is pioneering battery power, cutting half a million liters of diesel annually and paving the way for 100% electric shipping.
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Top Stories: Transport
Historic first US coast-to-coast autonomous flight completed
by David Szondy
Joby Aviation has scored a world first, completing the first-ever fully autonomous flight from sea to shining sea across the continental United States – a distance of 3,199 miles (5,148 km) – with zero control inputs from an onboard human pilot.
Small, spry solar-roofed tractor looks to replace diesel
by Omar Kardoudi
GoSun's Moonrider 27 pairs a compact 27-hp electric tractor with an optional solar roof, letting farmers charge in the field and swap diesel for sunlight as solar tractor alternatives multiply worldwide.
Toyota Dakar hopeful swaps twin-turbo V6 for hydrogen fuel cells
by Simon Heptinstall
Toyota Gazoo Racing is replacing its Hilux’s traditional twin-turbo V6 with a next-gen hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for the 2027 Dakar Rally, testing rugged zero-emission tech in the world's most punishing desert environment.
Review: 2026 Volvo EX30 gives big pimple on a first date energy
by Aaron Turpen
The 2026 Volvo EX30 is a small electric SUV with a big personality, to cover for a cabin designed by people who apparently looked at gauges and buttons and decided these are unnecessary extravagances.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
The way you sleep has ties to 80 different diseases
by Mike McRae
An analysis of nearly 100,000 people has found that those who get too little sleep each night face an increased risk of dozens of diseases. So when are we going to start taking sleep seriously when it comes to our long-term health and lifespan?
Hybrid human-mouse brain created in landmark lab experiment
by Mike McRae
A groundbreaking experiment has dramatically advanced the field of lab-grown neural models, with researchers fusing a human cortical organoid with another animal's nervous system. Now, scientists are weighing up the ethics versus the potential.
Y chromosome loss could be the first sign of cancer
by Mike McRae
As far as our genetic library goes, the Y chromosome seems like a mere pamphlet. Just ask any cell with a pair of X chromosomes if it feels overly bothered by that trivial loss of DNA.
Top Stories: Outdoor
4-min turbo-inflatable cubic camp castle is now available in the USA
by C.C. Weiss
One of the more impressive tent innovations from 2025, the Cube Tent has landed in the USA. Originally launched in South Africa, the big, blow-up tent is now ready for camping trips across the US. And it'll soon be joined by other handy inflatables.
EDC gadget packs 36 tools into one key-fob-sized module
by Maryna Holovnova
How many tools can you realistically combine into something the size of a car key fob? London-based company Ysmart packs 36 functions into the Toolt, a compact EDC tool designed to save the day when your toolbox isn’t around.
BIC-size mini flashlight carries its own blade & swappable driver
by C.C. Weiss
A spinoff of the Olight flashlight brand, Oknife introduces the MK 3-in-1 tool. It relies on the underlying expertise of both brands to offer a combination tiny, multi-beam magnetic flashlight and streamlined pocket knife with blade and multi-driver.
Top 10 tiny houses that rethink the humble shipping container
by Adam Williams
Shipping containers aren't just for moving stuff around. With their compact dimensions and ease of transport, the metal boxes are tailor made for tiny homes. Here are 10 of the best container-based tiny houses we've seen.
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Top Stories: Technology
World-first unpowered DNA computer sets speed record
by Mike McRae
Researchers from Maynooth University in Ireland have turned to the very chemistry of life to develop a novel kind of computer that runs without a constant supply of electricity.
Diminutive drone is set to show you the underwater world
by Ben Coxworth
Underwater drones certainly are handy for inspecting things like boat hulls and fish farm nets, but they can often be relatively large, complex devices that cost a few thousand bucks. Such is not the case with the simple li'l BentiX, however.
Dyson does a toothbrush – with a built-in camera and water flosser
by Maryna Holovnova
Dyson's new CameraJet toothbrush features not only a brush head but also a water flosser and a camera that uses AI to direct the water flow. It could very well become the smartest device in your bathroom.
This $42 box gives you remote access even if Windows is dead
by Howard Armitage
Remote desktop is useful until the remote computer stops cooperating. At $42, JetKVM Mini W keeps you in control even when Windows crashes, won’t boot or needs BIOS-level attention.
Top Stories: Science
Europe's largest carbon capture plant will trap 800K tons of CO2 annually
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Norwegian chemical company Yara has inaugurated the largest industrial carbon capture facility in all of Europe this week. Set up at the company's ammonia and fertilizer plant in Sluiskil, the Netherlands, it can capture 800,000 tons of CO2 per year.
The brain may not be a single organ after all
by Mike McRae
According to a recent investigation on mice by Stanford University researchers, there’s a case for treating parts of the brain as separate organs, each with very distinct embryological – and potentially evolutionary – origins.
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