🌎 New Atlas stories of the week

by Utkarsh Sood

The JMEV SC01 comes backed by the electronics and tech giant Xiaomi. And despite its digital roots, it gets all the sports car basics right: driving pleasure, lightweight construction, precise handling, and, most importantly, a no-frills approach.

by Monica J. White

The world’s largest battery-electric ship has quietly begun harbor trials on the River Derwent in Hobart. Built by Incat Tasmania, the Hull 096 represents a major step forward for large-scale electric shipping.

by Mike Hanlon

Mecum's Kissimmee auction always kicks the year away with a bang, but this year it smashed a laundry list of world records: the biggest car auction in history ($441 million), the highest single day in history ($259 million), plus world record prices for the Ferrari Enzo, F40, F50, La Ferrari, La Ferrari Aperta, 288 GTO, FXX, 275 GTB/4 Alloy, 599 GTO, 250 GT/L Lusso, F12tdf, 458 Speciale A, 599 SA Aperta, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale A plus the Pagani Huayra and Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach.

by Aaron Turpen

Imagine you’re eight years old and it’s your birthday. You open a big box. Inside is a huge, off-road, remote-controlled truck. Now, as a grownup, you realize why the Hummer EV exists.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Using the largest sample of super-agers to date, scientists have found convincing evidence that supports what many of us have suspected: Longevity isn’t just about healthy lifestyle choices, but also a good draw in the genetic lottery.

by Ben Coxworth

If you want a really good workout, you shouldn't just be sitting around. That's at least part of the thinking behind the Martoni Cardio Speeder, a seatless exercise bike that puts the user in what its creator calls a "procumbent" riding position.

by Michael Franco

Researchers have developed a spray-on powder that turns into a wound-conforming gel when it comes in contact with blood. The breakthrough has the possibility of dramatically improving wound care in combat and other life-threatening situations.

by Bronwyn Thompson

A new CRISPR-based one-off therapy that lowers "bad" cholesterol is set to enter its Phase I trial. If successful, it could be the first approved genetic-editing method, replacing ongoing medication and slashing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

by C.C. Weiss

The Nissan Interstar van is not a pretty machine. So to build an Interstar camper van that looks like a place we'd want to live is quite a feat. Nissan conversion partner Eiffeland has done just that, carving out a warm, rustic-modern roaming lodge.

by Ben Coxworth

Although there are a huge variety of multitools on the market, many people don't want to give up their Swiss Army Knife. Versa58 offers a compromise to those folks, as it adds extra functions to Swiss Army Knives via spring-loaded attachments.

by Adam Williams

No prizes for guessing where the Dark Vader draws its inspiration from. The tiny house certainly makes a forceful impression and combines its sleek black looks with a compact but storage-packed interior layout.

by Monica J. White

By lifting its hull above the water on a hydrofoil, Awake’s new NAVI electric foiler does away with spray and noise with a smooth, efficient glide. It’s not for everyone, but it shows how refined and practical electric foiling has become.

by Abhimanyu Ghoshal

Firefighters could soon have a formidable ally in their daunting task of entering buildings set ablaze: specialized drones that can handle the heat from live flames and relay visuals to help them assess the situation.

by Stefan Ionescu

Fujifilm has unveiled a more advanced version of its flexible rotating-lens business projector. The ZUH12000 is the brightest member of the company's Z-series and becomes its second 4K model. But it's the first to have an interchangeable lens system.

by Joe Salas

The second I picked up the CNVPros, I thought to myself, "Are they heavy? Yeah? That means they're expensive, put 'em back." The nighttime 'nocs have a bit of heft to them, and they totally feel like they should cost way more than they do.

by Maryna Holovnova

A stroke can make it difficult to speak fluently, clearly, or in full sentences. Scientists have been working to change this, by developing a wearable device called Revoice. It helps people who lack the power of speech to communicate more naturally.

by Bronwyn Thompson

For the first time, we know more than we ever expected to know about the sex lives of the majestic beluga whale. It's complicated, to say the least, but it also shows just how strategic nature is at keeping an isolated group of animals alive.

by Chelsea Haney

The first ever study to document a direct relationship between earthquake activity at the bottom of the ocean and phytoplankton growth at the surface changes the way scientists in the future will model ecosystems.

by Shirl Leigh

Omega-3 fatty acids sourced from wild-caught fish stocks are valued for their studied health benefits, but this has resulted in a reduction in fish stocks. A Scottish firm is working on a solution, in the form of omega-3s made from whisky waste.

by Bronwyn Thompson

A computer hidden inside a single strand of fabric sounds like sci-fi, but it isn't. Researchers have built a “fiber chip” thinner than hair, which could be turned into everyday clothing or used to treat neurological diseases and aid robotic surgery.