Headliner
'Metajets' promise interstellar travel, propelled by nothing but light
by Etiido Uko
If an alien in Alpha Centauri were craving pizza, it’d take millennia to deliver it using today’s technology. Researchers may have developed a technology that would one day reduce delivery to a mere 20 years, using nothing but light for propulsion.
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Highlights
Tiny HousesOutdoors
Two-person tiny house puts the affordable back into small living
by Adam Williams
The Shanti, by Simplify Further Tiny Homes, recalls the small living movement's humble roots. It combines a very compact footprint that sleeps up to two people with a surprisingly affordable price.
AutomotiveTransport
VW takes aim at the uber-cool Renault 5 with the polite-faced ID.Polo
by Simon Heptinstall
Volkswagen new small electric hatchback takes on the cool Renault 5 with the traditional Polo name, an old-school ‘polite face’ and dashboard buttons. Competitive pricing, 280+ miles per charge, three motor configurations, and a GTI model on the way.
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AI and HumanoidsTechnology
Brain-inspired chip could reduce AI energy use by 70%
by Etiido Uko
Replicating brain-scale processing may require thousands of NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs. At 700 watts each, that would take megawatts. The brain runs on 20 watts. This organ has inspired scientists to create chips that cut energy use by 70%.
BicyclesTransport
Wheel kit electrifies your bike – but keeps the weight way down
by Ben Coxworth
So, you've got a perfectly good road or gravel bike, but you don't want to get "left behind" in the ebike revolution? Well, the Cyplore kit turns analog bikes electric, and it's claimed to be the lightest system to do so.
TentsGearOutdoors
15-sec push-button tent airs out into big panorama
by C.C. Weiss
Last year, AlphaGo debuted the Cube Air Tent, a larger-than-life inflatable built for four to six people. Now it adds a smaller option – much smaller. The new Cube Solo smooths out the corners into a swag-like semicylinder that pitches in seconds.
DronesConsumer TechTechnology
DJI announces entry-level but fully capable Lito Series drones
by Maryna Holovnova
DJI is one of the leading manufacturers of drones for aerial photography and videography. As social media continues to grow, beginners and content creators are seeking lightweight, easy-to-use devices for short-form video. DJI’s latest releases are designed to meet that demand.
AutomotiveTransport
A vacuum company is somehow building the world's quickest car
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Somehow, Dreame has found time in its busy vacuum-cleaner-manufacturing schedule to stick a couple of rocket boosters on a sportscar and engineer the living daylights out of it... to the point that it's expected to go from 0-60 mph in 0.9s.
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ArchitectureEngineering
Compact home in Quebec brings the forest indoors
by Bridget Borgobello
La Maraude dissolves the boundaries between interior living zones and the outdoors. The project invites the forest indoors through its geometric layout, emphasizing light, openness, and continuity by positioning courtyards as integral spaces.
Pickup CampersAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
Triple-pop truck camper squeezes full base camp into short pickup bed
by C.C. Weiss
Like many pickup campers, the all-new Roam Rider SL pops up to increase headroom. But it also pops out ... twice. Its two sliding side wings add 20 cu ft of interior space, and slide-out appliances further add to the highly space-efficient design.
Urban TransportTransport
This cargo ebike could replace your family car but fits in your closet
by Omar Kardoudi
Cargo e-bikes have always been useful but hard to live with. JackRabbit's MG Cargo bets you shouldn't have to choose, offering a surprisingly light frame, serious carrying capacity, and a fold small enough for a city apartment.
MilitaryEngineering
Robotic Ripsaw M1 built to scout and draw fire for US Marines
by David Szondy
At the recent Modern Day Marine Exposition in Washington, DC, Textron Systems rolled out a robot made to fight alongside US Marines. Called the Ripsaw M1, it's designed to act as a robotic force multiplier for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) and Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).
CampervansAdventure VehiclesOutdoors
6-sleeper split-room camper van amplifies the Ford Nugget blueprint
by C.C. Weiss
Alcovia Vans has taken the well-known Ford Nugget multi-room camper van layout and adapted it for the ever-popular Fiat Ducato full-size van. It elevates the floor plan's versatility and expands it for a total of six seats and six sleeping berths.
GamesConsumer TechTechnology
This robot is set to be your miniature AI chess partner – or coach
by Shirl Leigh
If a chess player seeking a game partner doesn’t happen to live in a city such as St. Louis, home of the World Chess Hall of Fame, the next best thing might be SenseRobot Chess Mini. It's a robotic chess coach and player, currently on Kickstarter.
Refractor: Science & Health
Please note that articles listed in this section will open at our sister site: Refractor
AstronomyScience
Antarctic telescope spies alien worlds with ever-shifting orbits
by Chris Young
A newly observed planetary system, dubbed TOI-201, has revealed orbits that change in real time observable in human timescales.
SleepWellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind
The naps that are red flags as we age, backed by two decades of data
by Bronwyn Thompson
Naps are one of life's pleasures, but as we age, they can also be an early sign of health issues we're unaware of. These findings are thanks to a groundbreaking study of more than 1,000 people who had their daytime naps tracked for up to 19 years.
Elsewhere
This video aims to strip away sci-fi tropes and dive into the actual science behind multiple realities.
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