Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
Insane 940-foot Chinese cliff elevator dramatically cuts school commute
August 16, 2026
| Bronwyn Thompson
A breathtaking ride with a view in an elevator up and down the side of a canyon has opened in a remote canyon, drastically increasing capacity. It makes what was once a six-hour round trip even shorter than 30 minutes, because of less wait time.
World's largest all-electric plane completes maiden flight
August 13, 2026
| David Szondy
Another record falls as the world's largest all-electric airplane makes its maiden flight. On August 12, 2026, Heart Aerospace's 25,000-lb (11,340-kg) X1 demonstrator aircraft took to the skies over Plattsburgh, New York for a 27-minute FAA flight test.
Durston's Dyneema X-Dome tent claims 'world's lightest' title
August 16, 2026
| C.C. Weiss
When Durston launched the X-Dome 1+ freestanding tent, we knew it wasn't going to be the lightest in the series. And now it's not – the Dyneema-and-carbon X-Dome Pro 1+ debuts to claims of being "world's lightest freestanding double-wall tent."
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Portable solar panels have long been a favorite of the off-grid camping and backpacking community, but they're limited by daytime use. Ventyra is aiming to solve this solar gap with an ultra-portable wind turbine called the R1.
Iris' new solar generator has a handy feature you don't often see on units like these: the ability to follow the sun around the sky. The T1 also a built-in battery to top off your personal gadgets while you're off-grid.
Three seats, one single bed, a large kitchen and a bathroom (or at least a toilet) – that's an odd, mismatched set of specs for any camping vehicle. Nevertheless, it's the exact set that underpins a new Mitsubishi Delica D:2 micro-RV from Wellhouse.
Nissan has set a new economy record, driving a Qashqai e-Power 1,230 miles across Colombia on one tank. Its special hybrid system uses a gasoline engine only to charge the batteries, offering EV-style driving without ever plugging in.
For years, Hymer has been selling what stands as arguably the most innovative camper van in all the world. This year, its highly self-sufficient Crossover series draws closer than ever before to that Venture S camper van, mirroring it outside and in.
While many tiny homes have been trending steadily larger, this off-grid model takes things in the opposite direction. Created with mobility in mind, it would be a good fit for those wanting a nomadic lifestyle.
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August 16, 2026Microsoft Office apps have been a staple for decades for a reason — they’re dependable and they work. Take advantage of these helpful tools with a Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license on sale now for just $19.97. -
August 16, 2026 | Adam WilliamsDownsizing to a tiny house with a family is always going to be a challenge, but the Kookaburra 2.0 has been designed to smooth the process along. It features two bedrooms, a bathroom with a bathtub, and plenty of storage. -
August 16, 2026EAST OAK’s Pitmate™ 20-Inch Tabletop Electric Smoker combines electric convenience with authentic wood-smoked flavor, offering 544 square inches of cooking space in a compact, beginner-friendly design.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Longevity has become a bit of a buzz word, and has become increasingly aligned with the tech industry. But a timely report from Harvard Medical School reminds us that we have a lot of power when it comes to how we age – and it's backed by science.
In somewhat of a surprise announcement, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first US influenza vaccine engineered from the mRNA technology that gave us one of the most administered COVID-19 shots during the pandemic.
“Remove the plank from your eye before pointing out the speck in another’s,” says a popular proverb. For millions with geographic atrophy, the speck is literal. Relief may now be coming, after a sight-restoring implant received approval for sale in Europe.
An AI present in your consultation promises better notes, less admin and more time for patients, but what exactly is being recorded, where does the data go, and did anyone really ask for your consent?
Hookworms are freeloaders that live at the host’s expense inside their gut, drinking about two drops of blood per day. This parasite could soon pay its way with engineered hookworms serving as living medicine factories.
Sixteen different PFAS compounds have been discovered in the feathers of Antarctic penguins, demonstrating that the insidious spread of "forever chemicals" now reaches the most remote wildlife on Earth.
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August 16, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalCanada-based Edison Motors has been working on developing its own line of diesel-electric semi trucks. It's not a sophisticated auto industry player, but a tiny startup with people who know and love trucking. Here's what its vehicles are like. -
August 16, 2026 | Simon HeptinstallAlmost 2 years ago, BMW challenged students at Clemson University to build a vehicle that produced more energy than it needed. The Deep Orange 17 – or 'luminetta' – is the result of their labors, a boxy prototype EV jam-packed with solar cells. -
August 15, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalMitsubishi makes only a handful of EVs across its global markets, but it's finally getting around to expanding its lineup with a beauty. Australia will get this handsome crossover – the ASX VR-e – later this year. -
August 15, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodWhile much of Chevrolet's lineup continues to chase higher price points in North America, GM’s Buick has launched its sleek, tech-laden Electra L7 sedan in China for around US$25,000 – exactly the kind of value-packed EV many US buyers have been begging for. -
August 15, 2026 | Adam WilliamsThis timber retreat is small on home comforts but big on simple rustic charm. Intended as a short-stay vacation home, it features a minimalist but comfortable interior that includes a netted hangout area. -
August 15, 2026 | David SzondyLand-based launch sites for orbital rockets just got the flat-pack treatment as Rocket Lab announced its Global Hypersonic & Orbital Spaceport Technology (GHOST) system. The initiative packs a complete launch system into standard shipping containers. -
August 15, 2026 | Howard ArmitageOpenAI’s first real smart-home device reportedly looks like a $300 metal doughnut. No screen, plenty of sensors, a camera, and ChatGPT built in.
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Editor's Picks
This has to go down as one of the most inventive and ambitious motorcycle designs I've seen in nearly 20 years following two-wheeled innovations. That doesn't mean I'd have the cojones to ride it, especially given its eye-popping steering setup!
Roboticists today are wrestling with the question of whether AI needs a body? If so, what kind? And then there’s the “how” of it all; if embodied intelligence is the way forward to true artificial general intelligence, could soft robots be the next step?
This off-grid cabin-style tiny house is seriously small, with a floorspace of just 215 sq ft. However, despite its modest dimensions, it has been expertly designed to provide everything you need for a short stay.
Researchers have discovered a new way to potentially treat liver disease. By blocking a key inflammatory pathway it could be possible to reduce liver damage and improve blood vessel function in patients suffering cirrhosis.
The new Auriga Explorer camper truck looks almost as fast and ferocious as a Dakar rig. But it's made for slow travel, the kind that sees you link together wandering days with cozy nights in a mobile 4-person hut expanded by pop-top and 3 slide-outs.
It's double-barreled, it uses lasers instead of LEDs, and it's machined from a solid block of 6061 aluminum alloy. Come meet the Lumitwin DL700 flashlight, which belts out two converging beams up to a distance of 2 km (1.24 miles).
Britain's DragonFire laser weapon upped the ante on November 20 at the Ministry of Defence's Hebrides Range in Scotland when the high-powered, solid-state laser for the Royal Navy shot down drones flying at 351 knots (404 mph, 650 km/h).
Fumbling with bindings is nobody's idea of a good time, especially in the cold and the snow. That's why snowboarder Brendan Walker created the Machina MagIC Ride System, which replaces traditional snowboard bindings with magnets.