🌎 New Atlas stories of the week

by Abhimanyu Ghoshal

We're still reeling from EICMA madness, and I noticed something astounding we didn't get around to showing you: Italjet's Roadster 400. It features arguably some of the most innovative and inspired styling on a scooter in the last few years.

by Ian Baker

A radically innovative design controls wheelspin on rough and slippery surfaces while driving all four wheels on all surfaces – and eliminating complex differential gearsets. Its first use will be in off-road heavy machinery.

by Joe Salas

From aggressive inline in the ’90s to snowboarding into adulthood, I’ve chased that zen-like flow wherever I could find it. Now, stuck in a land of heat and humidity, my next ride of choice? An all-terrain electric mountainboard, of course.

by Paul Ridden

I don't dip into the automotive world too often, but when I do it's usually to highlight a new electric micro-car. And that's precisely what's happening now – after years of pioneering the electric two-wheel segment, Niu has doubled up for the MM.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Caffeine appears to do the opposite of what you might think when it comes to the heart. Scientists have found that a cup of coffee a day actually protects the heart from atrial fibrillation – a condition that can lead to stroke and heart failure.

by Pranjal Malewar

Sleep isn't just rest, it's a crucial biological process. New MIT research has revealed why sleep deprivation causes attention slips. It found brain fluid surges usually reserved for sleep time occur during waking hours, throwing one's ability to focus

by Paul McClure

In a world-first trial, scientists used a one-off CRISPR gene edit to switch off a liver “fat brake” gene, slashing stubborn LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in patients whose levels refused to budge on standard treatments.

by Malcolm Azania

Smaller than a grain of salt and possibly the tiniest neurotech implant ever invented, the MOTE sends neuro-telemetry data via infra-red lasers, and could help neuroscientists unlock cures for neurological diseases.

by C.C. Weiss

Generally Honda is the major Japanese automaker pushing out a fast, ferocious new side-by-side. This time, it's Toyota, which shows a radical side-x-side that delivers an extra 50+ hp over any production SxS out there.

by Adam Williams

The Beachcomber tiny house pushes the boundaries of small living with a remarkably roomy layout. Designed for one or two people, it features a storage-packed interior that's closer to an apartment on wheels than a traditional tiny house.

by Ben Coxworth

When it comes to venturing into the wilderness, you can never be too prepared … right? The folks at Tavaker seem to think so, which is why they've packed a saw, knife, screwdriver, firestarter and 10 other functions into their self-named multitool.

by C.C. Weiss

A cross between an oversized adventure van, toy hauler and expedition vehicle, the Epicore Action Van does adventure a little differently. Its massive garage stores and maintains all your gear while its roomy interior sleeps and feeds four people.

by Ben Coxworth

It's now actually not that unusual to see quadruped robots with wheels for feet, allowing them to either walk or roll as needed. The modular D1 is different, though, in that it can also operate as either one quadruped or two self-balancing bipeds.

by Shirl Leigh

Coffee lovers distraught by the closing of several hundred Starbucks locations worldwide may not be crying in their mugs much longer, if G&A Robot installs one of its vending machines in their city. The units are billed as a smart cafe in a box.

by Abhimanyu Ghoshal

SanDisk's just released the tiniest 1-TB Type-C drive on the market today. It's like a stubby little dongle that you'd usually use as a wireless receiver for a mouse, and despite its diminutive size, it actually boasts pretty decent performance.

by Ben Coxworth

If you find 3D printers to be just a little too coldly futuristic, this contraption might be more to your liking. Scientists from Cornell University have created a machine that knits solid 3D objects out of nice old-timey conventional yarn.

by David Szondy

If you've ever wondered why we are here, then you can thank Jupiter for part of the answer. A new study from Rice University suggests that if it weren't for the gas giant, the Earth would have spiraled into the Sun during its formation.

by Malcolm Azania

For the first time, scientists have recorded hundreds of hippocampal cells in flying bats simultaneously to show how bats store memories not just of individual places, but as entire maps. The study could lead to cures for neurological disorders.

by Pranjal Malewar

Nitrogen fixation is a process where certain microbes convert nitrogen gas into ammonium, a form phytoplankton can use. This wasn't thought to happen in the Arctic, but new evidence suggests it might, offering a fresh supply of nitrogen to fuel life.

by Bronwyn Thompson

Don't be fooled by that soft-looking down and pretty faces – woodpeckers are tough, tree-pounding beasts who simultaneous harden their whole bodies like a hammer and grunt as they drill away with force of up to 30 times their weight.