Hi all, Loz here, feeling a little reflective as I put this newsletter together.
This year has rocketed past at a frightening pace, and yet I’m still feeling that sense of acceleration that used to freak me out so much when I was writing about the rise of AI.
The future has never looked so uncertain for small, independent media companies like ours, so I wanna say a huge thanks to our New Atlas Plus subscribers for directly supporting our team’s work with their US$19 a year contribution - and to the rest of our readers, who check in, share articles, and never fail to keep us accountable in the comments section!
But more importantly I wanna send some love to the international team of writers, editors and support staff that bring this site to you all daily. I’ve asked a lot of everyone this year, and time and again, this crew has been up to the challenge. They’re the reason we’ve got a puncher’s chance in the age of algorithmic news cycles, and the reason why I’m working so hard behind the scenes to set us up for the next steps in 2026. It’s been amazing watching people grow into themselves this year and I’ve got great confidence that the best is yet to come!
So have a great Christmas, hope you get some time off, and we’ll keep things coming into 2026 and beyond!
Oh, and if anyone remembers our Band Name of the Year contest from February, I’m happy to report I’m dangerously close to fulfilling my promise and releasing a few songs under one of the top 5 names you weirdos voted for. Be afraid. Or don’t, I’m not here to tell you how to live your life.
😅
Loz Blain, MD @ New Atlas
Headliner
Unearthly polyhedral glamping tent dazzles the wilderness
by C.C. Weiss
Bringing a taste of the flair and fashion of Japanese camping culture to the US, the Tokyo Crafts Grayhus glamping tent is a fantastically geometric wilderness abode. It elevates the outdoor experience, whether you're inside or viewing from afar.
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Highlights
For longer-lasting, eco-friendlier asphalt ... just add algae
by Ben Coxworth
Nobody likes potholes, nor do they like the environmental damage associated with the petroleum utilized in traditional asphalt bitumen. That's why scientists are now looking at replacing the latter with a binder derived from algae.
Tattoo ink may cause prolonged changes to the immune system
by Jay Kakade
Tattoos have gained widespread popularity but according to a new study they may not be harmless decorations. Tattoo ink doesn’t just stay in the skin; it travels and accumulates in the lymph nodes, potentially causing lifelong changes to the immune system.
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15-minute hep-C test makes same-day treatment possible
by Pranjal Malewar
Scientists have developed a new rapid test for hepatitis C. It is easy to use, highly sensitive, and made for point-of-care places like clinics and community centers. The speed allows clinicians to diagnose and start treatment in the same visit.
Leaf-scan tells farmers when fruit is ripe – without destroying it
by Ben Coxworth
In order for farmers to know if their fruit is ripe, they have to pick and analyze pieces of that fruit, reducing their yields. Utilizing a new technique, however, they could soon leave all the fruit intact, analyzing the leaves beside it instead.
Europe is backing off its ambitious 2035 gas car ban
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Europe's lofty plan to phase out the sale of internal combustion engine cars by 2035 now seems all but dead. The European Commission announced it's dropping the ban on new gas-powered cars a decade from now, owing to pressure from the auto industry.
No DNA evidence at crime scene? Protein analysis comes to the rescue
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Your next favorite true crime podcast might have some new forensics jargon to make sense of. Researchers in Australia have developed a new way to identify humans – similar to how we do with DNA – that could come in handy while investigating crimes.
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