Headliner

These spiders create doppelgängers to deter predators
by Chelsea Haney
Step aside, Van Gogh. New research shows that several orb-weaving species create giant web-mounted “doppelgängers” convincing enough to confuse potential predators. It’s a clever form of deception that nudges the line between instinct and ingenuity.
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Highlights

Japanese 4x4 tiny camper van favorite gets rugged refresh
by C.C. Weiss
Looking at the Delica D:5 refresh Mitsubishi previewed a couple months ago, we wouldn't have pegged it as "the strongest ever." But that's how Mitsubishi bills it now. The tiny van and camping darling gains extra performance to match a revised look.

Pilotless eVTOL soars the sky on its way to first-ever certification
by David Szondy
Boeing subsidiary Wisk Aero's Generation 6 eVTOL aircraft has completed its historic maiden flight. On December 16, 2025 at 12:26 pm PST, the autonomous passenger carrier lifted off from the Wisk flight test facility at Hollister, California.
More Stories

Long-term aspartame intake sabotages brain and heart function
by Bronwyn Thompson
In the first long-term and real-world reflective study of its kind, scientists have uncovered new detrimental health impacts of the artificial sweetener aspartame that echoes those found in shorter research.

I'm lazy, practical, and cheap – Smartwings automated blinds review
by Joe Salas
I never once dreamed of having automated blinds. I was hesitant at first because I live in a rental, but then I thought I'd for sure get my deposit back when we eventually move out after an upgrade like automatic shades, right?

5,200 holes carved into a Peruvian mountain left by an ancient economy
by Bronwyn Thompson
For nearly a century, a strange band of 5,200 holes carved into a hillside has defied explanation. Stretching for nearly a mile along the edge of the Pisco Valley, Monte Serpe – "serpent mountain" – may have finally revealed its secrets to scientists.
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Micro RGB TVs are coming: should you get excited about them in 2026?
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Micro RGB for TVs is a thing now, and it promises to be the next major display tech for home entertainment. We've already seen a couple of models so far, and more are on the way. Here's what you should know before shopping for a next-gen TV in 2026.
Elsewhere
A bunch of utterly curious scientists built an observatory in the oddest of places: the heart of a volcano. Find out how and why in this recent episode of the Unexplainable podcast.

Photo by Ása Steinarsdóttir on Unsplash
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