Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
New excavator interface lets rookies match veteran operators on day one
August 21, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
MIT engineers replaced excavator joysticks with a miniature-arm controller that mimics human arm motion, letting complete novices match veteran operators' skill level from their very first session, no years of practice required.
Top 10 tiny houses that showcase the extremes of small living
August 20, 2026
| Adam Williams
Tiny houses come in all shapes and sizes nowadays. Some push toward the upper limits of what can reasonably be considered a portable home, while others embrace extreme downsizing. Here are 10 of our favorites from both ends of the spectrum.
NASA abandons orbit-boost attempt to rescue Swift space telescope
August 20, 2026
| David Szondy
The mission to rescue NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory space telescope may be in need of some rescuing itself. Due to multiple malfunctions in the LINK spacecraft's attitude control system, space engineers have decided to abandon the boost attempt.
Top Stories
Downsizing 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.
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.
Almost 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.
Seamlessly bringing together the worlds of teardrop trailers and egg campers, the Outranger trailer arrives as a compelling alternative that feels both vintage and brand new. It relies on a molded composite construction shaped into a squarer form.
The white cross with red surround has long been a sacred knife badge, indicating the timeless dependability of the Swiss Army knife. The latest multitool out there isn't a Swiss Army knife, but it wears an equally proud badge of origin and heritage.
Canada-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.
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August 21, 2026Long hours at your desk call for smarter support. The SIHOO Doro C300 Pro V2 adapts as you move, with dynamic lumbar support, adjustable armrests and full-body ergonomics designed for studying, working and relaxing. -
August 20, 2026 | Malcolm AzaniaBy calibrating a “light pump” to match the optical composition of a medium, researchers can shoot a “probe” beam at a new deflection angle. Surpassing previous electronic means, Caltech’s light-bending opens the door to hyperspeed computation. -
August 20, 2026 | C.C. WeissI want the camper van ... but without tying myself to one van. That's essentially what Hunker sells with its new slide-in camper box. An all-in-one camper floor plan on roller skates, the Hunker Pod turns an empty Ram van into an inviting camper van.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Bacteria engineered to sense and reduce glucose levels could be the future of type 2 diabetes treatments, following pre-clinical trials. If successful, genetically enhanced gut bacteria could completely change how we treat type 2 diabetes
A record five-year, single-site brain-imaging study now found evidence of the role the environment plays in resynchronizing the brain’s networks following a dose of psilocybin – the chemical that makes some mushrooms “magic”.
A highly anticipated drug trial is in its final stages as its 350 participants receive their single dose to treat chronic low back pain. If successful, it could be a breakthrough therapeutic for people with the debilitating age-related condition.
A cross-sectional study based on a registry of fatal US motor vehicle crashes has found that Taylor Swift's albums may have even contributed a statistically significant bump in deadly traffic accidents, presumably by distracting drivers.
The narwhal's defining feature – its continuously growing tusk – is the only straight structure of its kind seen in the animal kingdom. Now, scientists have cracked the code on how these elusive Arctic whales grow such an important and unique tool.
We're closer to understand who is most likely to feel invisible aftershocks following even small earthquakes. While they feel real at the time, the phantom quakes may just be your brain trying to make sense one of the weirdest sensations on Earth.
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August 20, 2026AI gives you plenty of options, but choosing the right model can be a chore. AskAnyModel puts 50+ models in one place so you can compare answers instead of bouncing between subscriptions. -
August 20, 2026 | Bronwyn ThompsonIt's that time of the year again – when nature photo competition winners are announced and we get to look at some amazing images that remind us that the world is made up of more than AI slop. For now, anyway. -
August 20, 2026 | Adam WilliamsPlans have been revealed for an ambitious timber tower in Washington state that will set a new height record. It will rise to a height of 180 ft, making it the tallest timber office building in the USA once completed. -
August 20, 2026 | Simon HeptinstallChinese mini-transport engineering company Blizwheel has spent years evolving lightweight electric scooters that fold like origami to become small enough to vanish inside a standard backpack. Its latest version is perhaps the best yet. -
August 20, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodThe XSR 700 and 900 are brilliant motorcycles that most people can ride practically anywhere and have a ball. They offer something for modern motorcycle enthusiasts plus authentic retro style. That sums up why the entry-level XSR155 is headed to the US. -
August 19, 2026 | David SzondyNorthrop Grumman has unveiled its Raid Hunter chain gun system, adding a new layer to anti-drone swarm defenses by combining cutting-edge AI sensors, precision-guided ammunition, and a motor-driven chain gun feed firing up to 200 rounds per minute. -
August 19, 2026The ScanMax 320 is a powerful, portable, and intelligent scanning solution crafted for modern workflows. Whether you're an office professional, creator, student, or small business owner, this device completely redefines how you digitize physical media.
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Editor's Picks
A subtle yet significant phenomenon is occurring beneath the North American continent; its ancient bedrock is slowly dripping into the Earth’s mantle, creating a funnel-like structure concentrated over the Midwest of the United States.
Scientists have discovered the single largest repository of gold in the world that makes Fort Knox look like a piggy bank. Making up 99.999% of all the precious metal on the planet, it's just sitting there for the taking. However, there is a catch.
Having a Swiss Army knife is all fun and games until you find yourself wanting to see in the dark, start a fire, drink water straight from a stream, or heck, even charge your phone. Enter the Lifesaber.
There's a new contender for the US Navy's F/A-XX Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and it looks like something out of Batman's hangar thanks to a peculiar triple-fuselage design.
Although electric motors do help kayaks fight headwinds and currents, they also add weight, complexity and the potential for getting snagged. The FluxJet system may change that, with a sub-5-lb electric jet drive module that fits into the hull.
The world's oldest human fingerprint has been discovered at an archaeological site in Spain. The fingerprint was dated at 43,000 years old and is believed to have come from a Neanderthal.
The most egg-shaped of all the egg campers, the Barefoot Caravan has been wowing RVers with its shapely fiberglass for over a decade. Prices have risen quickly during that time, but now Barefoot offers the Bothy as a lighter, cheaper entry model.
The dream of the ancient alchemists may come true as Marathon Fusion announces that its tokamak fusion reactor technology can turn common mercury into gold as a byproduct of fusion operations in quantities that would make Auric Goldfinger blush.