Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
US Army eyes major leap in battlefield night vision technology
May 17, 2026
| David Szondy
The US Army has selected three vendors to boost the service's night vision system into the 21st century by replacing the legacy system from over 20 years ago with the next-generation Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD).
World’s first native color LiDAR gives machines human-like vision
May 14, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
For the first time, a LiDAR sensor sees the world in color natively – no camera required. Ouster's Rev8 technology gives machines richer, faster 3D vision for the next wave of autonomous robots and vehicles.
Compact rugged phone aims to capture action adventures in 4K
May 17, 2026
| Paul Ridden
Rugged phones are not for everyone. They're generally huge and heavy, though most come with a long-life battery and all can withstand a beating. A relatively new name in the space has gone mini for a tough cookie that's also an actioncam.
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EDC Monster has introduced the latest version of its compact key-shaped multitool, designed to pack more than 20 functions into a pocket-friendly form. It is currently available for backing on Kickstarter.
Swap Arcade is a full-sized arcade machine with hundreds of games that can fold into a classic wooden cabinet when not in use. This nostalgic product may appeal to those who grew up playing arcades, and it is now available on Kickstarter.
Built for fast, remote motorized adventure that can go wrong in a hurry, the Dragan Pocket Winch aims to be the lightest come-along out there. It fractionalizes weight while still multiplying muscle enough to move up to 2,000 lb of stuck bike.
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.
The Black Butte tiny house uses some clever interior design ideas to create an open and storage-packed layout that still makes room for some nice touches, including a bathroom with a freestanding bathtub.
The Cabarita tiny house strikes a nice balance between spaciousness and portability. Designed for small families or full-time downsizers wanting a little extra space, the home features a light-filled and open interior with two bedrooms.
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May 16, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodJust when modern EVs are starting to feel like interchangeable tech pods, Renault has decided to bring romance back into the equation. It's newly revealed open-top trim of the Renault 4 E-Tech takes the electric hatch and gives it some personality. -
May 16, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodThe Manx R is a proper supersport, one that doesn’t feel like a retro cash-grab. Rather, a statement that the company wants to be taken seriously again – not just as a historic badge, but as a modern performance bikemaker with something left to prove. -
May 16, 2026 | Malcolm AzaniaPenn State researchers record spikes in pressure during automated tape-peeling. Understanding how such processes record information points to developing memory materials for zero-electricity computers without typical vulnerabilities.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Few of us enjoy the dentist – but think about how lucky you are that you don't have to visit a Neanderthal tooth doctor. A molar found in a cave has revealed the oldest known example of dental work, with stone tools being used as rudimentary drills.
One of the world’s most dangerous birds may carry signals invisible to the human eye. Scientists have found that the helmet-like casque atop a cassowary’s head fluoresces under UV light, revealing striking patterns that differ between species.
Sleep loss is one of the most challenging symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. New research has now likened poor sleep to a canary in a coal mine, an early symptom of neurodegeneration that could serve as a biomarker to identify the disease.
We’ve all heard the advice: eat your fruit and vegetables, get your vitamins, and stay healthy. For the most part, that guidance holds up. But some nutrients have a more complicated story, and vitamin B12 is a fascinating example.
Mexico City is trapped in a dangerous feedback loop. As groundwater is pumped from beneath the city, the ground subsides, with some entire regions sinking far faster than others, a problem NASA is tracking from above.
Less fat, animal-sourced protein and more complex carbs each day, for less than a month, can potentially take years off the biological clock in older adults. It suggests our health is more sensitive to short-term lifestyle changes than we think.
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May 16, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalUnitree has just gone and made many a kid-at-heart's wildest dream come true. The Chinese robotics firm has created the GD01, a functional mecha suit that you can hop into and walk about on two legs or four. -
May 16, 2026 | Aaron TurpenIf you think that the Rivian R1S is just the SUV version of the R1T pickup, you’re right. That doesn’t change how great it is. Mostly. -
May 15, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodIt's been two years since Red Bull revealed the RB17, a low-slung aerodynamic hypercar that was teased to make nearly twice its own weight in downforce. Now, in 2026, the hypercar has entered its final build phase, with final assembly now underway. -
May 15, 2026 | C.C. WeissAirstream trailers boast a lot of positives, but "cheap" and "lightweight" are not really among them. The new World Traveler trailer, however, is in fact a lighter, cheaper trailer that demonstrates Airstream's continued adaptation. -
May 15, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodJuiced Bikes has just launched its first electric dirt bike, called Nomadix, through its powersports arm. And all for US$2,500. It ticks most boxes: impressive performance, affordability, light weight, and what looks like good after-sales support. -
May 15, 2026 | Ben CoxworthBicycle tail lights have a way of playing second fiddle to their brighter, more interesting headlight siblings. We're sure you'll agree, however, that the Hi-Tail is one tall, telescoping safety beacon that definitely won't be "outshined." -
May 15, 2026 | Monica J. WhiteHuawei's XPixel million-pixel smart headlights debuted at the Beijing Auto Show with full-color projection, capable of beaming movies, games, and navigation cues onto walls and roads – while also boosting safety in bad weather.
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In the South China Sea, the aqua-colored waters of an expansive shallow reef platform suddenly gives way to a near vertical shaft of vast darkness – an ocean sinkhole almost entirely devoid of oxygen and, in turn, marine life as we know it.
This off-grid cabin-style tiny house is seriously small, with a floorspace of just 215 sq ft. However, despite its modest dimensions, it has been expertly designed to provide everything you need for a short stay.
Bajaj Auto, the world's third largest motorcycle manufacturer, has gone from a partner to KTM to taking over the Austrian brand altogether. That's thanks to a $905-million shot in the arm from the Indian two-wheeler giant at the eleventh hour.
Some of the most intriguing videos on the internet aren't "viral sensations" … instead, they lurk deep beneath YouTube's placid surface. A wonderfully weird little film known as Mary Worth – the Movie definitely fits in the latter category.
Chinese humanoids are starting to move with extraordinary grace and agility, but Boston Dynamics is the OG in this field, and fresh video of its swivel-jointed Atlas robot running, cartwheeling and breakdancing shows it's still at the bleeding edge.
While the price of eggs is unlikely to dip anytime soon, it might be time to find other sources of one of their key nutrients – omega-3. New research on the polyunsaturated fatty acid has uncovered encouraging signs that it can slow biological aging.
Almost a century and a half after construction began on La Sagrada Familia, the exterior structure of the tallest church in the world was finally completed last Friday in Barcelona, Spain. Its tallest tower has reached its maximum height of 566 ft.
A preserved tree fossil gives an unprecedented view into a moment 42,000 years ago when the Earth’s magnetic field went haywire, triggering environmental chaos, influencing everything from an increase in cave paintings to the Neanderthal extinction.