Features of the week
BiologyScience
World’s largest web houses 110,000 spiders thriving in total darkness
by Bronwyn Thompson
Deep underground in a dark, sulfuric cave, scientists have made an incredible discovery – a giant communal spider web spanning more than 1,000 square feet, home to an estimated 110,000 spiders that defy nature to coexist in harmony.
ArchitectureTechnology
Extraordinary rippled building looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie
by Adam Williams
You could be forgiven for thinking this extraordinary building was dreamed up as an alien megastructure for a sci-fi movie. However, the Yidan Center, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is indeed very much real and is currently nearing completion.
MotorcyclesTransport
This is how Honda envisions the future of motorcycles
by Utkarsh Sood
Ever wondered how some of the biggest motorcycle makers in the world think the future of two-wheeled mobility will look? Well, Honda gave us all a glimpse into its own vision through its EV Outlier Concept at this year’s Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
ADHD & AutismBrain HealthBody and Mind
No credible tie between Tylenol use and autism/ADHD, huge study finds
by Bronwyn Thompson
Despite high-profile advice to avoid Tylenol when pregnant and a potential warning-label change, a comprehensive umbrella study of reviews has found no credible link between acetaminophen and autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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Top Stories: Transport
Italjet just dropped the wildest scooter we've ever seen
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.
Revolutionary full-time 4WD system dumps the diff
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.
Review: Torquey, ride-anywhere e-board even an old fella can ride
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.
Compact electric car for two can roll with four e-scooter batteries
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.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Coffee has 'astounding' impact on irregular heartbeat in world-first trial
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.
Why your brain can't focus when you haven't slept
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
One-off lipid-lowering gene therapy a success in world-first human trial
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.
Wireless, laser-shooting, brain implant fits on a grain of salt
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.
Top Stories: Outdoor
The Toyota side-by-side no one saw coming outmuscles Polaris RZR
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.
Beachcomber tiny house delivers apartment-style living on wheels
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.
Mod multitool lets you bring 14 functions into the deep, dark woods
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.
Supersized 4x4 camper van fully adrenalized for full-bore adventure
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.
Top Stories: Technology
Modular convertible robot is one quad or two bipeds – your choice
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.
Barista quality in a machine – G&A Robot begins rolling out its coffeebots
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.
Smallest Type-C thumb drive on the planet stores 1 TB of your files
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.
Forget 3D printing: Cornell is 3D knitting with its new machine
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.
Top Stories: Science
Like living on Earth? Thank Jupiter
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.
Landmark bat study reveals how neurons "store memories as an orchestra"
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.
A surprising discovery under Arctic ice could boost marine life
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.
World’s first glimpse inside nature’s hardest-hitting bird
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.
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