Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News

NASA's experimental ion engine passes major test, bringing Mars mission closer

May 12, 2026 | Chris Young
The US space agency's latest breakthrough in experimental drives passed a major test in February, with experiments showing it was 25 times more powerful than the current king of ion drive technology, Psyche.

First hydrogen helicopter just proved it can fly a real mission

May 11, 2026 | Omar Kardoudi
A modified Robinson R44 completed the first-ever hydrogen helicopter circuit flight in Quebec, Canada, clearing a key hurdle toward FAA and Transport Canada certification for zero-emission organ delivery aircraft.

Tiny pop camper tops the kei-size micro-RV America desperately needs

May 12, 2026 | C.C. Weiss
Ovrlnd has built out a miniaturized camping topper sized to a 1980 Mini 95 pickup that measures comparably to a Japanese kei car. And though the rig looks more like a toy at first, it offers 6.5 feet of standing room inside and a comfy double bed.

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This extra-wide tiny house features a spacious interior specifically designed to make full-time small living comfortable. Arranged on a single floor, it includes a generous living area and two bedrooms.
Quaise Energy isn't chasing the geothermal energy where Earth has already put hot rocks near the surface. Quaise is trying to make geothermal work almost anywhere on the planet, by drilling deeper than we ever have before ... with masers.
Aging in a tiny house might not be easy if you have to contend with ladders and low ceilings, but with its extra-wide, primarily single-floor layout, the Rose has been designed from the ground (or wheels) up for long-term small living.
Another fiberglass "egg" camper badge hits the ground rolling into the off-grid camping market. Following the first-ever off-road camper in Scamp's history, fellow composite trailer builder Oliver is launching an off-grid-ready caravan of its own.
Aotos' Flux X26 cyberpunk-tinged "hybrid" ebike has built on the buzz it generated at CES, raising over US$2.8 million in crowdfunding in a month. The company will begin shipping the specially priced standard and Pro models across the globe in May.
Saab has developed a new anti-tank round that's designed to take on the modern high-tech armor of the 21st century. Built for Saab's Carl-Gustaf 84-mm (3.31-in) recoilless rifle system, the HEAT 758 munition can even defeat modern reactive armor.

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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Sound waves have been used to create a microscopic barrier from the environment, and can be used on fragile materials. Scientists demonstrated the tech on houseplant leaves, where it blocked damaging UV rays without impeding photosythensis.
All I wanted to do was get rid of my glasses, but when my local laser eye surgery clinic recommended some odd-sounding, advanced Presbyond treatment developed by Zeiss, I said sure, if that's what the cool kids are getting. Here's what's happened.
Researchers have used satellite data to uncover evidence of methane breaking down above the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption, forcing scientists to rethink how methane actually cycles through the atmosphere.
Infections around the time of pregnancy may leave lasting marks on the developing brain of children. The new research adds to growing evidence that the immune environment during pregnancy may play a role in shaping long-term brain health.
Researchers at MIT have suggested that rice seeds can hear the sound of rain, according to a new study. MIT calls it “the first direct evidence that plant seeds and seedlings can sense sounds in nature”.
Observations of a far-distant galaxy several times the size of the Milky Way reveal a surprising stillness overcoming the sea of early stars, suggesting mysterious forces brought its rotation to a rather rapid halt.

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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?
The USA – and world's – new tallest timber skyscraper has been under construction for a few months. However, despite speedy progress, it has run into some issues and the future of the ambitious project is looking uncertain.
You could be forgiven for assuming that this pyramidal skyscraper project was a still from a sci-fi TV show, or perhaps another render that's never going to go ahead. But it is indeed real, and it's begun the early stages of construction.
Some people can’t get their bad cholesterol levels down, even if they take cholesterol-lowering meds. A clinical trial using a combination of existing and not-yet-released cholesterol tablets lowered bad cholesterol by almost half.
Drill bits are out, death rays are in. On May 21, 2025, New Atlas hit up Quaise Energy’s literal groundbreaking demo in Houston, Texas where a mm-wave maser melted rock to unlock the deepest, hottest, cleanest energy anywhere.
While cutting back on salt intake has long been a mainstay in treating high blood pressure, new research suggests that upping potassium intake might have a greater effect. It might be time to stock up on bananas, apricots, and sweet potatoes.
Globally, stomach cancer is on the rise in young people, but new research shows that three-quarters of future cases could be prevented by screening for and treating a common bacterial infection: Helicobacter pylori.
Hybrid commuter bikes generally aren't known for being all that exciting. That's why some cyclists are taking old speed-oriented lugged-steel road bikes that would otherwise go unused, and converting them into zippy, retro-cool city bikes. Here's how you can do it, too.