🛣️ Potholes that snitch on themselves

A smart fabric embedded in layers of asphalt for building roads can sense when the blacktop is damaged, and give engineers an idea of what sort of repairs are needed during their next maintenance cycle. That's the sort of AI-powered tech I can really get behind – and you can read all about it in Ben's recent piece.

Elsewhere, Paul McC looked at how a powerful hallucinogen called DMT can boost protect the brain from stroke damage, and boost recovery times. Also worth checking out: a nifty walking cane-like assistive device that includes a camera so it can observe your surroundings. Scroll down for all this and more to kick off your week!

– Abhimanyu Ghoshal

Highlights

Good ThinkingTechnology

Smart in-asphalt fabric provides live reports from within roads

by Ben Coxworth

While it's important to monitor the condition of paved roads, keeping an eye on the surface will only tell you so much. You also need to know what's going on with the underlying asphalt, which is where a layer of electronic fabric is made to come in.

Illnesses and conditionsBody and Mind

Psychedelic DMT shows promise as breakthrough stroke treatment

by Paul McClure

A natural psychedelic may do more than alter perception. A new study found that at sub-hallucinogenic doses, DMT shielded the brain from stroke damage in animal models, reducing inflammation, preserving the blood-brain barrier, and speeding recovery.

Good ThinkingTechnology

Camera-packin' AI assistive device is like a white cane on steroids

by Ben Coxworth

There's no doubt that a standard white cane can be quite helpful, but it isn't all that … interactive. The Glide device certainly appears to be, however, as it verbally and physically guides blind users down city streets.

A Titanium Frying Pan with a 100-Year Warranty? This Company Built It

Titaner's latest project, the 5-Layer Titanium Frying Pan, is now on Kickstarter — and it’s pitched as a lifetime solution to the problems that plague most cookware: coatings that peel, pans that warp, and meals ruined by uneven heating.

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'Sugar switch' in the brain offers new path to treating depression

by Bronwyn Thompson

Chronic stress can rewire the brain, leading to a host of mental health issues. Now, scientists believe that one small sugar-adding process may act as a switch for depression, providing new insights into mood disorders – and a new target to treat them.

SpaceScience

Dream Chaser to debut as free-flying spacecraft in 2026

by David Szondy

Sierra Space and NASA have renegotiated their contract for the Dream Chaser spaceplane that will allow the spacecraft to make its first orbital flight next year as a free flier instead of visiting the International Space Station (ISS).

Society & CommunityWellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind

We choose ignorance as we age – even when knowledge is more useful

by Bronwyn Thompson

Whether it's watching the news or checking a bank account, adults often deal with uncertainty by switching off – even when that knowledge is useful. Now, scientists have identified when it is we start to go down the "ignorance is bliss" path, and why.

Tiny HousesOutdoors

Owl-like tiny house sleeps up to six people at a squeeze

by Adam Williams

This charming tiny house is the work of French studio Tiny Binocles. Named Grand-Duc, the home features a compact but well-designed interior that punches above its weight with sleeping space for up to six people.

DronesConsumer TechTechnology

Comin' in hot – dauntless drone can make 110-km/h landings on trucks

by Ben Coxworth

Drones are already very useful, but they could be even more so if they could land on vehicles without requiring those vehicles to slow down for them. A new system makes that possible, allowing for on-truck landings at speeds of 110 km/h (68 mph).

This $10 Windows 11 Pro deal feels like a cheat code

Upgrade your PC to Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 and unlock a modern interface, better multitasking, advanced security, and Copilot—your built-in AI assistant that makes everyday tasks easier.

Wellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind

Steroid users rely on risky online advice, not doctors, to quit

by Paul McClure

Many anabolic steroid users are turning to online forums – not doctors – for help coming off the drugs, a new study shows. With misinformation and inconsistent advice rife, experts warn that this could fuel preventable health risks.

Autonomous combat aircraft unveiled as Europe’s loyal wingman

by David Szondy

Autonomous fighter planes are popping up all over the place these days as more air forces opt for pilotless loyal wingmen. The latest example is Europe's version, the multi-role Helsing CA-1 Europa, which has just made its public debut.

Illnesses and conditionsBody and Mind

Radiation a 'strong alternative to surgery' for early-stage lung cancer

by Paul McClure

Precision-targeted radiation is proving a match for surgery in early-stage lung cancer, offering patients similar long-term survival with less invasiveness, and potentially transforming how this common cancer is treated.

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🛣️ Potholes that snitch on themselves

Highlights

Smart in-asphalt fabric provides live reports from within roads

Psychedelic DMT shows promise as breakthrough stroke treatment

Camera-packin' AI assistive device is like a white cane on steroids

A Titanium Frying Pan with a 100-Year Warranty? This Company Built It

More Stories

'Sugar switch' in the brain offers new path to treating depression

Dream Chaser to debut as free-flying spacecraft in 2026

We choose ignorance as we age – even when knowledge is more useful

Owl-like tiny house sleeps up to six people at a squeeze

Comin' in hot – dauntless drone can make 110-km/h landings on trucks

Special promotion for New Atlas readers

This $10 Windows 11 Pro deal feels like a cheat code

Steroid users rely on risky online advice, not doctors, to quit

Autonomous combat aircraft unveiled as Europe’s loyal wingman

Radiation a 'strong alternative to surgery' for early-stage lung cancer

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