Features of the week
Medical InnovationsBody and MindRefractor: Science & Health
Wireless retinal implant approved for sale across 30 countries
by Etiido Uko
“Remove the plank from your eye before pointing out the speck in another’s,” says a popular proverb. For millions with geographic atrophy, the speck is literal. Relief may now be coming, after a sight-restoring implant received approval for sale in Europe.
AI and HumanoidsTechnology
ChatGPT Voice shifts from chatbot to proper assistant
by Howard Armitage
ChatGPT’s upgraded voice mode can listen while it speaks, survive interruptions and reach into the tools you already use. The everyday improvements are useful, but the glimpse of what comes next is where things get interesting.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Bürstner's slick, transformable camper van learns some new tricks
by C.C. Weiss
At the 2025 Caravan Salon, Bürstner revealed two small motorhomes with shape-shifting interiors. This year, it's adding a new camper van that incorporates transforming features from both those series to create a new sense of space and versatility.
AircraftTransport
Hands-on with Zeiss's new aircraft holographic technology
by David Szondy
Mention Zeiss, and it's likely to bring up planetarium projectors and advanced optical lenses, but aerospace products wouldn't get much of a look-in. That is, until now, as New Atlas gets hands-on with Zeiss's new holographic technology for aircraft.
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Top Stories: Transport
Hennessey’s $2.5M Blackbird hypercar ditches digital for raw V8 power
by Simon Heptinstall
Meet the Hennessey Blackbird hypercar, a sensational statement about decoupling mechanical innovation from digital dependency that features the world’s most powerful and high-revving naturally-aspirated V8 engine and an old-school manual gearbox.
Insane Dodge Viper V10-powered motorcycle sells for $200K
by Utkarsh Sood
The Allen Millyard Dodge Viper V10 is a proper missile. It comes powered by an actual 8-liter Dodge Viper V10 engine that produces 507 hp and 525 lb.ft. But the fact that it was built by Millyard himself adds to its prestige.
Full-squish trekker built to Roam city and beyond
by Monica J. White
MapFour started out as a new model line under budget-ebike favorite Engwe, before morphing into its own brand last year. Its first major launch under that new banner is aimed squarely at the European trekking ebike market.
Special Vehicles Division electrifies your classic car or motorcycle
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Toronto, Canada-based Beachman makes highly desirable vintage-style electric café racers that we've covered on here before. It's now expanding its shop to convert classic cars and motorcycles into full-fledged electric vehicles.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Living healthier longer is easier and more affordable than you think
by Bronwyn Thompson
Longevity has become a bit of a buzz word, and has become increasingly aligned with the tech industry. But a timely report from Harvard Medical School reminds us that we have a lot of power when it comes to how we age – and it's backed by science.
First mRNA flu vaccine has been approved for US adults
by Bronwyn Thompson
In somewhat of a surprise announcement, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first US influenza vaccine engineered from the mRNA technology that gave us one of the most administered COVID-19 shots during the pandemic.
Top Stories: Outdoor
VW's inflatable California concept camper previews flexible van living
by C.C. Weiss
Volkswagen often surprises with its annual Caravan Salon debuts, and this year it's revealing multiple world-first concepts that explore the future of van life. It starts off with a California Beach concept that packs a cabin full of inflatables.
Magnetic telescope doubles as a 500-meter flashlight and more
by Maryna Holovnova
A lot of outdoor gadgets are designed to do more than just one job. Currently on Kickstarter, the Nivora Apex X is a compact telescope aimed at hikers and birdwatchers that also doubles a flashlight, power bank, and smartphone mount.
Tiny multitool disc spins between functions
by C.C. Weiss
We wouldn't call the all-new Invento Geo multitool "revolutionary" in the sense of changing the market forever, but it does blend physical revolution into the multitool formula. The result is what could prove a quicker of switching between tools.
Space-saving tiny house embraces simplicity without sacrificing comfort
by Adam Williams
Rather than attempting to squeeze in multiple bedrooms or tons of storage, the Luna Nook tiny house keeps things simple with a space-saving design that makes its modest footprint feel pleasant to spend time in.
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Top Stories: Technology
Painless microneedle tattoos from London startup CipherX
by Maryna Holovnova
London-based company CipherX has created an alternative for those who like tattoos but hate needles and blood. Its microneedle patch works like a stamp and offers a fast and pain-free way to get minimalistic tattoos.
Cyclops laser projector goes super bright up to 400 inches
by Paul Ridden
Modern projectors come in all shapes and sizes, but the Fujifilm Z line stands out from the crowd. This isn't due to notably high brightness, though that's certainly the case, but the industry's only folded-type rotatable lens mechanism.
Drone review: Vcopter Falcon Mini is unique, but can be frustrating
by Ben Coxworth
I like oddball inventions, so when I first heard about the Falcon Mini bicopter drone, I knew I had to try it out. Well, I can now say that it is indeed a quirky li'l aircraft … but you should probably just go with the HOVERAir line of quadcopters.
Adorable Tiny Vinyl turntable spins 4-inch records
by Monica J. White
Tiny Vinyl’s budget-friendly Player gives four-inch records their own belt-drive turntable, with built-in speakers and Bluetooth, while crates and frames expand the collectible format into a miniature music ecosystem.
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