Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
I asked ChatGPT to build me a $1,000 effects pedal. Here's what it did
October 12, 2026
| Howard Armitage
What started as a search for an expensive effects pedal turned into something far more interesting. With one sentence, I sat back with my feet up and watched AI turn a spare Raspberry Pi into the effects pedal I almost spent a grand on.
The 2026 CFMOTO SR-S750: Riding China's attempt at a Japanese sportsbike
October 10, 2026
| Boris Mihailovic
I was set to hate it. I felt I had to. It was made in China, and while I think CFMoto, on general principles, makes pretty good bikes, what business does it have attempting an in-line four?
Biped bot uses your old, dusty phone for brains
October 12, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
That old phone gathering dust in a drawer could have a second life far more entertaining than being a paperweight. UCLA researchers have created PhoneBot, a little humanoid that puts your smartphone to work as the brains of a tiny robot companion.
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The Nordic Nook is a not-so-tiny house designed for a comfortable full-time life on wheels. It features a single-level layout for two and includes a well-equipped kitchen, an open living area, and not just one but two porches.
Based on timeless, inalterable physics, the Aerohart Aviator's Ember fire piston sparks a flame with nothing more than tinder, air and a quick smack of the hand. Now the tool has been fully redesigned and improved to work even better.
The new Wild Land Pickupmate Trunk is an impressive piece of truck camping kit that fuses several different products into one. It's not quite a rooftop tent, not quite a pickup camping topper and not quite a basic truck cap. It's all three.
This recent example of shipping container-based architecture is a lot more comfortable than most. It involved transforming three of them into a spacious home complete with a rooftop terrace and even a sauna.
In the near future, a building's emergency lighting, fire alarms, sensors and other items could be powered not by generators or batteries, but by the actual structural material. That's because scientists have developed a cement-based supercapacitor.
For decades, the original Honda NSX has stolen hearts and captured the imagination of sportscar enthusiasts worldwide. More than 35 years since its debut, the iconic two-door is making a comeback – but only for a lucky (and loaded) few.
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October 12, 2026Picking between ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude usually means pasting the same prompt into three tabs. ChatPlayground AI shows their answers side by side, and an Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription is $59.97 (reg. $619). -
October 12, 2026 | C.C. WeissOutdoor gear startup FLFQ-Aloner is pushing into the ultralight backpacking market with a modestly priced solo tent that shrinks down as small as possible. It aims to create the sweet spot in affordable, featherlight, roomy and convenient solo tents. -
October 12, 2026 | Simon HeptinstallOne of motor history’s most revered icons was radically reborn this week… as a minimalist EV. The Citroen 2 CV Concept unveiled at the 2026 Paris Motor Show resurrects a famous 90-year-old design to create an minimalist ultra-affordable electric car. -
October 12, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaResearchers have invented a new material that is as thin as a film, extremely stiff, and also an excellent thermal insulator – a combination not found in nature. This could change many industries, from electronics to space exploration. -
October 12, 2026 | Bronwyn ThompsonWe've become increasingly aware of how critical sleep is to our health, which has made many of us focused on the best ways to go about it. Now, experts have some advice for those trying to "optimize" sleep – and it doesn't involve any effort at all. -
October 12, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodThe Hyundai Tucson has traditionally been classified as a compact SUV. However, the next-gen model is packed with cutting-edge tech, and is noticeably longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor. So much so it hardly feels like a "compact" car anymore. -
October 11, 2026 | David SzondyA new mine detector technology has been tested in Brisbane, Australia, that puts a new spin on hunting things that go boom. The MineReader RDX uses a new principle for mine detection that emphasises seeking the explosive instead of the mine. -
October 11, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaA giant robotic worm can crawl over rocks, climb stairs and steep slopes, and swim through the water – and it does it all by shifting its own weight via a clever new water-pumping mechanism. -
October 11, 2026Windows 11 Home does the basics well, but three of the most useful tools in the operating system are locked behind the Pro tier. And with the upgrade at only $15 right now, those three tools alone justify the upgrade. -
October 11, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalAbxylute has come up with two products to enhance your mobile gaming sessions wherever you play. Its M5 and M6 controllers are designed to offer proper-sized buttons and joysticks, while attaching securely to your phone and fitting in your pocket.
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The Food and Drug Administration has approved a landmark eye drop that uses a combined dose of medication to restore age-related near-sightedness, without the need for surgery, for longer than anything else on the market – and with fewer side effects.
When we first caught wind of Thule's new Widesky rooftop tent, we took the model name to imply a large, clear stargazing skylight. Instead, Thule's latest tent encourages panoramic viewing in a different way, one we haven't seen on any other RTT.
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.
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.
Dragon Tiny Homes' Webster is well-suited to full-time living on wheels and features a spacious interior with three bedrooms, sleeping up to six people. The tiny house is currently up for sale for $85,000.
The future world's tallest building has passed a major construction milestone. Saudi Arabia's JEC Tower has now reached 102 floors and is rapidly progressing toward its planned height of more than 3,280 ft.
Electric flight seems to be all the rage, but its place in the aviation market has yet to be worked out. We talked to Ralph Müller, CEO of H2Fly, to discuss the state of play of electric aircraft, hybrid hydrogen fuel, and the future of the industry.
While we may still not have flying cars, robot butlers or food replicators in our possession, you can now order something else you may have long dreamt of. It's called the Photon Matrix, and it uses lasers to track and kill airborne mosquitoes.