Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
First bird-scale robot to swim, dive, and launch back into flight
July 13, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
Scientists have created a robotic bird that swims, dives, and rockets out of water to fly, all without propellers, legs, or folding tricks. Just clever engineering solving a problem nature already does gracefully.
Teleoperated humanoid robots complete first-ever live surgery
July 10, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
Two humanoid robots just performed live surgery for the first time in history, hinting at a future where compact, affordable machines bring advanced surgical care to rural hospitals, battlefields, and other resource-strapped settings.
Impossibly small fan puts instant cooling in your pocket
July 13, 2026
| Abhimanyu Ghoshal
It's getting harder and harder to outrun heatwaves around the world, so having a portable fan handy could be the move this summer. Zera's latest model promises powerful cooling in a surprisingly tiny package.
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Tiny houses don't come much smaller or simpler than this 48-sq-ft model. Designed by Tiny Tiny Homes, it's conceived as emergency accommodation and provides a basic shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Vantrack is developing the Lightcamp package for the Kia PV5 Passenger, turning the tiny van into a mini-camper with in/outdoor kitchen and sleeping space for 4 people. Light, fast-moving equipment makes for easy conversion back to an everyday e-MPV.
Part A-frame and part tunnel tent, the inflatable Puffer tent is designed to seamlessly blend convenience, style and comfort. The tent sets up in minutes to deliver a fully integrated "all weather" sleeping space with built-in air mattress.
Scientists have created a portable water purifier that works simply by shaking it for three seconds and setting it to float in water. It could be a breakthrough device for emergency situations, and it’s estimated to cost less than $25 to produce.
Though it only has a modest footprint, this towable tiny house is more practical than you might expect. Named the Amelia, it squeezes a pair of bedrooms and an open living area with well-stocked kitchen into a length of just 26 ft.
Volkswagen has been adding small but impactful camper van upgrades the past couple months. Now it turns its attention to its largest camper. Electrical upgrades give the updated Grand California more self-sufficient roaming capability than ever before.
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July 12, 2026Upgrade your truck with OEDRO running boards for safer access, better side protection, and a cleaner, more premium look. A simple modification that makes a noticeable difference every day. -
Blue Origin has an ambitious plan to relaunch New Glenn this yearJuly 12, 2026 | Chris YoungBlue Origin is racing against the clock to undo the damage caused by its New Glenn rocket exploding in May. The company outlined a new “horizontal/vertical hybrid” concept of operations that will enable an accelerated timeline to launch. -
July 12, 2026 | Boris MihailovicIn 2006, Harley-Davidson did a thing. When it did this thing, some wee came out of Boris. It came out of a few other people, too. Which was perfectly understandable, as you will come to understand.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Our distant relatives, Homo floresiensis, nicknamed “hobbits,” have been credited with two advanced skills: hunting small elephant relatives and controlling fire. A new study now challenges both of these famous ideas.
Between 2 and 4% of the world's population report hearing a mysterious buzzing or vibration. It's called The Hum, and for decades, scientists, engineers, and ordinary people have been trying to figure out what it is.
We encounter different combinations of chemicals every day, depending on where we live, what we eat, the products we use and the work we do. Scientists suggest the best way to mitigate risks – and it doesn't involve sealing yourself in a bubble.
If you happen to have an uncharged black hole handy, you may be able to power your house with it. Just set it spinning. But since most of us won't, it’s a little hard to test. That is, until these researchers found a way to do it in the lab.
If you've had to decide when to start and end your daily fast for the best results, this new study may be of help. Researchers have found that as long as your fast occurs, long-term weight loss may have little to do with when you clock on and off.
Many of us know the state of being “wired but tired” – feeling physically exhausted yet mentally unable to switch off. But the brain does not simply fall asleep because the body is fatigued – and part of the reason lies in the biology of survival.
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July 12, 2026 | Adam WilliamsWith its substantial size and lack of wheels or trailer, the Evergreen XL isn't a good fit for nomads. It trades portability for a remarkably spacious interior that's closer to an apartment than a traditional tiny house. -
July 12, 2026Working professionals are nothing without the right tools, and MS Office 2021 Pro is one of the best. For just $29.97 (reg. $219.99), you can get lifetime, offline access to the entire suite, which includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and more. -
July 12, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaWith a changing climate, wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive. Engineers from California have developed a house that can temporarily disappear underground until the danger has passed. -
July 12, 2026 | Joe SalasThe Airseekers Tron ... it's an odd one, for sure. There are a few things that I find irritating, but then it'll go and surprise me with some stuff it can do really well, where even "better" or "more expensive" robomowers tend to struggle. -
July 12, 2026 | Shirl LeighFinger joint strains are the bane of long hours spent daily on the computer, which is what led Melvin Wong, founder and engineer at Airra Labs, to build a better computer mouse – the Rotary Mouse, which is currently on Kickstarter. -
July 12, 2026 | Ben CoxworthOne of the appeals of paddlesports isn't just being able to look across the water, it's being able to look below its surface. With that in mind, an inventor has made an underwater lamp that lets him observe the seabed while paddleboarding at night. -
July 12, 2026 | Aaron TurpenAfter disappearing from the lineup in 2023, the Jeep Cherokee returns for 2026. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, the new Cherokee embraces everyday practicality with enough Jeep DNA to make weekend adventures more than just marketing copy.
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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.
While the topical application of minoxidil is one of the most effective and popular ways to combat male pattern baldness, it is poorly absorbed by the skin. Looking to improve its efficacy, researchers have turned to an unlikely but very sweet ally.
Looking forward to a future where laser beams replace power lines, DAPRA's Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program has set new records for transmitting more power wirelessly over longer distances.
A bacterium from the gut of Japanese tree frogs has "exhibited remarkably potent" tumor-killing abilities when administered intravenously, outperforming current standard therapies and paving the way for an entirely new approach to treating cancer.
Despite the headlines, there’s limited evidence that using large language models – like Claude and ChatGPT – is rotting the brain. But there’s enough cause for concern.
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 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!
The first aceclidine-based eye drop to improve near vision in adults with age-related presbyopia, which affects more than 100 million adults in the US alone, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and will be on sale by November.