Hi all! Loz here.
When I was a teenage idiot, one of my favorite activities was to jump off a foot-high wooden box, yell “Dominique,” slam dunk a basketball, then crash down on the hard concrete in my back yard. I did this hundreds of times a week, for maybe five years straight, blissfully ignoring any advice suggesting it might not be a great long-term strategic move.
As a middle-aged idiot, I’ve thus become very interested in knee arthritis treatments, and Paul McC has outlined a very interesting, safe and non-invasive new example below.
Another piece that caught my attention today is right down the bottom of the list: Michael Franco’s look into new research showing that ice is better than water at dissolving iron. But of course, every day’s a new box of chocolates and there’s plenty of other stories to dig into. Bon appetit!
Loz Blain
MD @ New Atlas
Highlights

Low-dose radiation relieves knee osteoarthritis pain, improves function
by Paul McClure
In a clinical trial, six sessions of low-dose radiation significantly eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function for months afterwards, hinting at a safe, drug-free alternative for millions living with joint degeneration.

Tiny house employs upside-down layout to fit a small family
by Adam Williams
The Tiny Getaway only has a length of 23.7 ft, but sleeps a small family in comfort. To maximize available space, designer Eco Tiny House has employed a novel "upside-down" layout that places the living room upstairs and a bedroom below.

Review: Is the OMNI X the best laser engraver on the market right now?
by Joe Salas
This was my first time jumping into laser engraving, so I went in as a complete noob. I have a fair bit of 3D printing and Cricut experience, so I figured laser engraving would be a snap. Turns out, it is.
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Stealthy off-road mini-camper van hails from unexpected US automaker
by C.C. Weiss
Of the Big 3 US automakers, "Chrysler" is the name that doesn't belong in a conversation about overland campers. But it was the one to introduce a new concept camper at Overland Expo Mountain West. Its Grizzly Peak is a ruggedized everyday MPV.

Behold Earth's marvels in 2025's Natural Landscape Photography Awards
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
I do not envy the judges of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. In 2025, it's attracted some outrageously talented lenspeople, and I'm having a hard time even narrowing down which of the six shortlisted photographers of the year I like best.
Review: 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is everything a Jeep should be
by Aaron Turpen
The Jeep Wrangler has always been the SUV equivalent of a pair of hiking boots: loud, clunky, and uncomfortable on the sidewalk The 2025 Wrangler Rubicon 4xe adds an electric motor to the mix, which has some surprising benefits.

Mediterranean diet improves psoriasis symptoms by up to 75%
by Bronwyn Thompson
Psoriasis may not have a cure, but significant relief might be found at the dinner table. A clinical trial has shown that the Mediterranean diet could dramatically improve symptoms, quality of life and overall health of those with the condition.
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Screens, snacks and workouts before bed barely affect teen sleep
by Paul McClure
You can forget the “no screens, no exercise, no snacks” bedtime rules that are designed to provide teens with good sleep. New research shows that almost all teens break them – and they still sleep just fine.

This area of fat is aging your brain faster than others
by Bronwyn Thompson
We've known for some time that obesity affects the brain, but now scientists have found that it's where you carry it that matters most. Deep visceral fat around organs has the biggest impact on brain aging, affecting a suite of cognitive functions.

Bike kit transforms a regular ride into front-loading cargo hauler
by Paul Ridden
Way back in 2016, we featured a nifty Kickstarter for a kit that converted a regular bicycle into a front-loader cargo hauler in double quick time. Now the company has announced an updated version called the Argo Fy.
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Modular multi-mission warship rethinks US Navy's autonomous fleet
by David Szondy
It may resemble a minimalist aluminum catamaran with Cybertruck overtones, but BlackSea Technologies’ Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC), being offered to the US Navy as a multi-mission autonomous warship, has more to it than meets the eye.

Ice found to dissolve iron faster than water
by Michael Franco
New research flips a long-held belief that frozen environments slow down chemical reactions and helps explain why Arctic rivers are turning orange. It turns out that ice is actually better than liquid water at releasing iron from common minerals.
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