Features of the week
EnergyEngineering
Masers are the future of clean energy – according to Quaise
by Joe Salas
Quaise Energy isn't chasing the geothermal energy where Earth has already put hot rocks near the surface. Quaise is trying to make geothermal work almost anywhere on the planet, by drilling deeper than we ever have before ... with masers.
AutomotiveTransport
Audi's latest V16 supercar is a 1935 record-breaker
by Simon Heptinstall
Audi’s new multi-million-dollar 200-mph mid-engined supercar has a V16… and sports a 90-year old design. The one-off Auto Union Lucca makes its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
Tiny HousesOutdoors
XL tiny house loses the wheels, gains an extra-spacious interior
by Adam Williams
What do you look for in a tiny house? If it's the ability to hit the road, then the Samuel probably isn't for you. However, if you'd prefer a stationary but practical home suitable for long-term living, then it might be a good fit.
MarineTransport
World’s largest sailing cruise ship blends luxury with green tech
by David Szondy
The world's largest sailing cruise ship has a name: the Orient Express Corinthian. The first of the Silenseas class, incorporating a number of high-tech features, has officially been christened at the Joubert graving dock in Saint-Nazaire, France.
This week’s newsletter sponsor
Slim 1L water bottle replaces 4 everyday essentials
Most water bottles do one thing. The Super Maxi fits your whole routine. With accessories for tea, coffee and protein, Ever Vessel’s award-winning 1L water bottle becomes a versatile drinking system, and it’s got a Red Dot design award to prove it.
Top Stories: Transport
One-off Ferrari 3.5-liter V8-powered superbike sold for more than $500,000
by Utkarsh Sood
A motorcycle commanding a price tag of over half a million dollars must surely be insanely rare. But then again, there aren’t many motorcycles that come fitted with a 3.5-liter V8 engine from a Ferrari F355 sports car.
First hydrogen helicopter just proved it can fly a real mission
by Omar Kardoudi
A modified Robinson R44 completed the first-ever hydrogen helicopter circuit flight in Quebec, Canada, clearing a key hurdle toward FAA and Transport Canada certification for zero-emission organ delivery aircraft.
Brembo's fluid-free braking system is coming to a car near you
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
For the past few years, Brembo has been working on a whole new way to stop a vehicle in its tracks. The company's fluid-free Sensify system is going into production, and it shouldn't be long before you can stomp the pedals on one of these in a new car.
Review: 2026 Mazda CX-70 is the CX-90 without a third row. And that’s fine
by Aaron Turpen
The 2026 CX-70 exists because not everyone wants to haul around extra seats they’ll never use. It’s a two-row midsize SUV built on the same bones as its bigger sibling, sharing a platform and powertrains nearly wholesale.
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Top stories: Body & Mind
Diabetes 'wonder drug' doesn't work like expected – but it's good news
by Bronwyn Thompson
The type 2 diabetes drug taken by an estimated 20 million Americans has long been thought of doing its heavy lifting in the liver, suppressing glucose production. But research has found it's actually unleashing its power in another part of the body.
Infections around pregnancy have a lasting effect on kids' mental health
by Chelsea Haney
Infections around the time of pregnancy may leave lasting marks on the developing brain of children. The new research adds to growing evidence that the immune environment during pregnancy may play a role in shaping long-term brain health.
Is the ‘Andes virus’ the new COVID? An expert explains the difference
by The Conversation
Andes virus is serious, and authorities are right to respond cautiously. But experts, including those from the World Health Organization, note it doesn’t have the characteristics needed to become “the next COVID”.
Update: Presbyond surgery gave my eyes two different focal points
by Loz Blain
All I wanted to do was get rid of my glasses, but when my local laser eye surgery clinic recommended some odd-sounding, advanced Presbyond treatment developed by Zeiss, I said sure, if that's what the cool kids are getting. Here's what's happened.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Tiny clamshell camper cranks into madly efficient micro habitat
by C.C. Weiss
Originally envisioned as a Tesla Model 3 hatch camper, the Wheelhome Dashaway ECT micro-camping trailer eventually got its own wheels. It's still ready for efficient e-camping and furnishes travelers with everything they need to live in comfort.
Swiss survival piston filters wild water as extensively as you want
by Simon Heptinstall
Katadyn has launched a state-of-the-art modular outdoor water filter system that uses a combination of three sophisticated filtration processes. The Explorer Water Filter and Purifier Series is serious professional expedition-quality gear.
Spacious tiny house brings on the luxury for a family living small
by Stefan Ionescu
Fritz Tiny Homes' Halcyon Grand packs two bedrooms into a 400-sq-ft park model, with a naturally lit master suite, full kitchen with dishwasher, spa-like bathroom, and advanced climate control for maximum livability.
24-hour beer station lets you play 'stock market' for cheapest price
by Bronwyn Thompson
In a vibrant entertainment spot in southern China, the main attraction may be a landlocked cruise ship full of bars and restaurants. But in its shadow, is even more novelty: A 24-hour self-service beer station where prices are guided by demand.
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Top Stories: Technology
This egg-shaped mouse is the latest to offer less wrist strain
by Maryna Holovnova
A new device from UK-based NextAxis Design might leave you guessing at first glance. It looks like a small, shiny egg, but it’s actually a wireless mouse. It’s called Ovo, and is currently seeking backing on Kickstarter.
Startup harnesses the power of AI in the ongoing hunt for minerals
by Etiido Uko
It is said that during the gold rush, people were so focused on gold that they forgot the shovel “goldmine”. In the AI and clean energy boom, where infrastructure is the focus, one company is betting on the most fundamental of shovels: raw materials.
Is this robot with a projector for a head the future of office work?
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Lenovo wants to put a cheerful robot with cameras, a projector, and an LCD screen for a face at your desk to help you with office tasks using AI. But that may not be the best use of precious real estate in your cubicle.
Review: Akaso 360, the budget alternative for the action cam beginner
by David Szondy
Looking for an action cam that can take fish-eye 360° shots but don't have a lot of cash to splash? One option is the Akaso 360 Action Camera aimed at the budget-conscious beginner. We took an in-depth look at it to see how it stacks up.
Top Stories: Science
10-year experiment reveals why gravity is so hard to measure
by Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo
For centuries, one of the most important numbers in physics has evaded accurate identification. The results of a recent experiment by NIST researchers could help bring us closer to a satisfying answer.
Earthquake 'whiplash' seen in large seismic events for the first time
by Bronwyn Thompson
Newly observed negative-phase waveforms in earthquake data has alerted scientists to a previously unrecognized feature of the "big ones" that occur when tectonic plates clash – and it may help us engineer safer structures in response to the movement.
Record-breaking volcanic eruption somehow cleaned up its own pollution
by Mike McRae
Researchers have used satellite data to uncover evidence of methane breaking down above the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption, forcing scientists to rethink how methane actually cycles through the atmosphere.
Sound-wave 'sunscreen' shields delicate plant leaves from UV
by Bronwyn Thompson
Sound waves have been used to create a microscopic barrier from the environment, and can be used on fragile materials. Scientists demonstrated the tech on houseplant leaves, where it blocked damaging UV rays without impeding photosythensis.
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