Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
Humanoid 'Olympics' reveal why the US can't compete with China's robots
August 24, 2026
| Bronwyn Thompson
As the World Humanoid Robot Games got under way, the sprinters quickly made headlines. But away from the track, a different story is being told. It's a revealing glimpse into China's AI and robotics world, where collaboration, not competition, is key.
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.
A higher BMI may help you live longer in later years – but there's a catch
August 24, 2026
| Mike McRae
The results of a recently published longitudinal study conducted by researchers from the University of Rhode Island in the US found that a higher body mass index among US adults over the age of 65 years was linked with a lower risk of death.
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Fitting in a small family without sacrificing portability is a challenge, but this tiny house strikes a good balance. It features two bedrooms, including one on the ground floor, while remaining relatively affordable.
I 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.
Ever been stuck in traffic and wished you could simply fly above it all, straight to your destination? Well, that dream is one step closer to reality, as the world's first airport for flying taxis has just received regulatory approval.
For years, SylvanSport specialized in skeletal tent trailers. Then it leaped straight to launching one of the boldest, boxiest campers of its class. Now it's circling back to fill in some of the space in between with the new Vire adventure trailer.
The 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.
This new piece of EDC gear we've spotted looks like a handy little screwdriver with bit storage. However, it serves two additional functions beyond fastening that make it practical for more than just DIY projects and repairs.
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August 24, 2026Hot sleepers, meet a mattress designed to tackle heat from the surface down. SweetNight's CoolNest Ultra combines cooling fabrics, phase-change materials and ventilated memory foam with seven-zone ergonomic support. -
August 23, 2026 | Bronwyn ThompsonIn a move that could drastically help slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the FDA has cleared C2N Diagnostics' PrecivityAD2 blood test for patients as young as 40 years who have shown potential cognitive symptoms of the condition. -
August 23, 2026The future of Scandinavian military aviation was rolled out by Saab at the Swedish Armed Forces Jubilee Air Show, with the unveiling of a full-scale mock-up of the company's A3-001 supersonic Loyal Wingman autonomous combat aircraft concept.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
A new study has found that eating more legumes was associated with better cardiometabolic health in young men, while cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower were the prime choice of vegetable for young women.
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.
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August 23, 2026Give your PC a productivity boost without breaking the bank. This Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows lifetime license gives your computer six essential tools to work with, and right now it’s only $54.99. -
August 23, 2026 | Monica J. WhiteThe Fairphone 6+ is the first of the brand's repairable, sustainable handsets to arrive officially in the US, pairing a modest spec bump with 12 GB of RAM, an eight-year software promise, and parts you can swap yourself with one screwdriver. -
August 23, 2026 | David SzondyChina has unveiled the world's largest multi-tool as it rolled out the world's first Boring and Blasting Machine (BBM) that combines a tunnel-boring machine with the ability to set explosives to blast through solid rock. -
August 22, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodBimota still produces its gloriously over-engineered, exotic bikes for other markets but it has been absent from America for the last 10 years. Not anymore. That’s because its returning to the US with Carolina-based Bimota Spirit as its official dealer. -
August 22, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalAston Martin's latest offering presents a radical departure from its usual design direction. If you like your cars burly and mean, you'll dig the Valen. It's also plenty fast. -
August 22, 2026 | David SzondyThe United States has about 94,000 tonnes of nuclear waste in storage, though that's a bit like calling all that gold in Fort Knox "waste." A new technique is being developed to recover its trapped value, unlocking billions of dollars in reusable fuel and high-value isotopes. -
August 22, 2026 | Adam WilliamsThis neat little cuboid tiny house is simplicity itself. It's best thought of as an extra bedroom or office, with a clever interior layout that maximizes available space by hiding the bed under its floor.
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Editor's Picks
Ford has been busily debuting new Nugget camper vans over the past few years, and it's now preparing to reveal the one it calls "completely winter-proof." The fully hard-sided four-sleeper Nugget High Roof will offer something VW doesn't.
Following construction restarting earlier this year, more details have been revealed on what is arguably the world's most ambitious architecture project: the mind-bogglingly tall JEC Tower, which is currently rising in Saudi Arabia.
It may surprise some to learn that Polaris has a serious research, development, and testing facility. I got a full tour of the place, along with a dedicated test track that I got to use later.
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.
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.
In a new study, researchers identified a molecule produced by a particular type of brain cell that reversed the cognitive decline seen in both healthy aging and dementia. It provides a better understanding of aging and a potential treatment target.
The all-new Urbanoid Booba is an impossibly cute, tiny acorn of a trailer designed to provide a stylish, carefree way of instantly escaping the urban grind. The towable clamshell unfolds and inflates into a cozy base camp in a matter of minutes.
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.