Features of the week
Home EntertainmentConsumer TechTechnology
Ranking the best Apple TV sci-fi: From 'Pluribus' to 'Severance'
by Rich Haridy
Apple TV is still producing top-shelf science fiction television and it's turning into an impressive slate. From stunning successes to some artistic swing 'n' misses, here is our up-to-date ranking of Apple's sci-fi TV, from worst to best.
MarineTransport
Small modular nuclear reactors could cut commercial shipping emissions
by David Szondy
Nuclear power isn't just for naval ships anymore as demonstrated by the Nuclear Propulsion in merchant Shipping (NuProShip II) project led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology which is looking at fitting nuclear reactors to heavy-duty commercial vessels.
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Ford's newest Nugget camper vans show true colors (and lack thereof)
by C.C. Weiss
In announcing the new 40 Years of Nugget limited edition camper van, Ford released exactly one exterior and one interior photo. Unacceptable. We made sure to stop by and grab more pictures of the world's latest Nugget camper van at its CMT debut.
ArchitectureTechnology
Saudi halts largest skyscraper on the planet, future uncertain
by Adam Williams
Mukaab, the world's largest skyscraper, is one of the most ambitious construction projects ever conceived. However, according to a new report, Saudi authorities have stopped work on the the gigantic building, and its future now looks uncertain.
This week’s newsletter sponsor
ICECO’s APL55 12V Portable Freezer Brings Real Refrigeration to the Road
Tired of melting ice and soggy coolers? The ICECO APL55 dual-zone portable freezer delivers dependable, app-controlled refrigeration for camping, overlanding, and long road trips – efficient, rugged, and built for vehicle-based adventures.
Top Stories: Transport
Hybrid jet engines work to excel where pure-electric jets fail
by David Szondy
A hybrid-electric jet engine may seem as absurd as a horse-drawn Zeppelin, but GE Aerospace is ground testing a new megawatt-class hybrid turbofan engine and its full powertrain that is powerful enough to run a medium-haul narrow-body airliner.
Volvo's premium electric SUV rolls more than 500 miles between top-ups
by Simon Heptinstall
It’s hyperbole season in the automotive world. Volvo has unveiled revealed "the true meaning of freedom to move" with the launch of an electric SUV named the EX60, which boasts a per-charge range of more than 500 miles.
Split-wing aircraft gets new propulsion system
by Ben Coxworth
Horizon Aircraft's Cavorite X7 already sported a radical design, even within the wild world of hybrid eVTOLs. That design has now been updated, however, for enhanced aerodynamics, cruising performance, and flight safety.
Capricorn's latest 01 Zagato hypercar prototype turns heads in Paris
by Aaron Turpen
Capricorn Group has unveiled its second prototype of the 01 Zagato hypercar at the Salon Rétromobile in Paris. The presentation came packed with all the right buzzwords to appeal to enthusiasts.
Special Promotion for New Atlas readers:
Clean up your phone with ease for $30
So, how long have you been deleting those messages saying your phone is out of storage? Now, it’s quick and easy to delete excess files with the Premium Plan to the Cleaner Kit for iOS for $29.99 (MSRP $104.97) for a lifetime subscription.
Top stories: Body & Mind
Surprising way cancer cells clear problematic proteins in the brain
by Bronwyn Thompson
For some time, we've known that it's rare to see people with both cancer and Alzheimer's diseases. Now, scientists believe they may have found why, discovering a molecule in cancer cells that clears problem proteins from the brain.
No more ultrasound goop with new gel pad
by Michael Franco
If you've ever had a sonogram you know that, even though the test isn't too hard to endure, the cold glob of gel that goes on your skin before you get "wanded" is pretty unpleasant. Japanese researchers have now come up with an alternative.
Radio capsule lets doctors know when patients miss their meds
by Malcolm Azania
Don’t remember if you took your pills? Try MIT’s SAFARI (Smart Adherence via FARaday cage And Resorbable Ingestible). The capsule has its own bioresorbable radio that activates itself when swallowed, so you’ll never worry about missing a dosage.
The US now has the first dual-action eye drop for age-related vision loss
by Bronwyn Thompson
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a landmark eye drop that uses a combined dose of medication to restore age-related near-sightedness, without the need for surgery, for longer than anything else on the market – and with less side effects.
Top Stories: Outdoor
Single-story tiny house feels much larger than it should
by Adam Williams
Going tiny always means making some sacrifices, but the Natural Luxe needs fewer than most. It has a remarkably open and spacious layout with a large kitchen and living area, and even a dedicated home office.
Tiny woody camper pod finds home on absolutely feral classic 4x4
by C.C. Weiss
The Mercedes-Benz Unimog always makes an impression. That becomes even truer when the stout-jawed U418 variant shows up painted in Rover green carrying what appears to be a truck-sized beer barrel or treasure chest below a rooftop tent.
24-in-1 multitool leaps out of the pocket and EDCs its own way
by Stefan Ionescu
Woods Design has unveiled a stylish metal bracelet that’s actually an EDC toolkit featuring hex screwdrivers, a spoke wrench, whistle, compass, eternal pen, and a fire starter. It can even morph into a strap for your smartwatch.
VW Bulli camper van just got itself a wild inflatable pop-up roof, too
by C.C. Weiss
The Ford Transit Custom isn't the only van to gain an inflatable pop-up roof design – the VW T7 gets one, too. Rhön Camp presents the first VW camper van with Freescape inflatable roof, pairing the air tent with a California-style interior.
Top Stories: Technology
X marks the spot: Futuristic cross-shaped airport sets new size record
by Adam Williams
Zaha Hadid Architects has revealed plans for the largest airport in Africa. As you might expect from the firm, this ambitious building is very striking, and it will take the form of a massive futuristic structure in the desert.
Look, no hands: Flying umbrella follows user through the rain
by Monica J. White
A YouTuber has upgraded his drone-powered flying umbrella with autonomous “follow me” capabilities, turning a striking novelty into something approaching practical hands-free rain protection.
Eternal clock tracks seconds to eons, via shockingly simple components
by Joe Salas
Watch this video of a working Lego clock that uses gear trains, a pendulum escapement, falling-weight power, and solar-driven rewinding to operate a multi-stage calendar and billion-year counter.
Underwater 3D printing is edging in to transform maritime construction
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
There are all kinds of critical infrastructure lying underwater – road and rail tunnels, pipelines for oil and gas, dams, and more. Could we simply 3D print such projects beneath the surface of the ocean? Cornell University is about to find out.
Top Stories: Science
CERN supercollider gets sustainable side hustle heating local homes
by David Szondy
Okay, CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) might have uncovered the Higgs boson and helped redefine our concept of physical reality, but what has it done for us lately? How about a side hustle heating several thousand homes in the neighborhood?
New system turns smartphones into radiation detectors
by Michael Franco
Researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan have developed a way to leverage the cameras on smartphones to provide accurate radiation readings. The system they created costs less than $70 and could be a big help in disaster situations.
Wood polymer gives thermal paper an eco-friendly makeover
by Maryna Holovnova
Nowadays, wood is rapidly becoming a valuable material in the renewable tech industry, replacing many harmful materials. Recent research shows that wood-derived compounds can serve as an alternative to the toxic chemicals used in paper receipts.
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