Science, Tech, Outdoor & Innovation News

Superfast power bank brings its own solar panel for recharging

May 05, 2026 | Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Power banks are a dime a dozen, but this one caught my eye with a feature I haven't seen before: a built-in solar panel to recharge it using the power of the sun. The Solly ticks a lot more boxes, and is currently raising funds over on Kickstarter.

Tiny bike camper expands via slide-out to sleep 2 people + toilet

May 01, 2026 | C.C. Weiss
The Alpencamper Eco Slide Out bicycle camper borrows a trick usually reserved for larger RVs, using a sidewall slide-out to expand its tiny interior enough to house a double bed comparable to what you'd find in a full-blown camper van.

Startup's squeezable solid could upend cooling and refrigeration

May 05, 2026 | Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Barocal is developing a class of solid materials that can absorb and transfer heat when subjected to pressure, with a high degree of efficiency and safety. Expect to see these in action in future refrigerators and air conditioning systems.

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The Shanti, by Simplify Further Tiny Homes, recalls the small living movement's humble roots. It combines a very compact footprint that sleeps up to two people with a surprisingly affordable price.
A construction team in Switzerland is excavating a hole in the ground that'll end up being over 88 ft deep, and spanning the length of two soccer pitches. This pit will be home to the country's first redox flow battery for storing clean energy.
Alcovia Vans has taken the well-known Ford Nugget multi-room camper van layout and adapted it for the ever-popular Fiat Ducato full-size van. It elevates the floor plan's versatility and expands it for a total of six seats and six sleeping berths.
Fourteen years ago we first heard about the Elf, a pedal/electric velomobile that could be charged via a rooftop solar panel. Well, there's a new version on the way that'll be cushier, more powerful, and able to seat a second passenger.
Combining a low price with a modest footprint of just 224 sq ft, the Rasa tiny house comes with a carefully considered interior that sleeps four in comfort – or even up to six at a squeeze.
Imagine a sensor that never requires a battery change. Like, ever. You could forget them for decades, and they’ll continue to function just fine. Well, researchers have created just that: a sensor that doesn’t require electricity or batteries.

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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.
Precision milling used to mean giant, pricey shop machines out of reach for most makers. You could design the "next big thing," but could you actually build it? Now you can.
Known best for trailers, Aliner is introducing its first pickup camper in decades: the Switchback. The clever pod rides as a ridiculously lightweight, compact box and in about 30 seconds unfurls into a fully hard-sided A-frame for two.
MIT spin-off Quaise is still trying to use fusion technology to drill the deepest hole in history and unlock clean, virtually limitless, supercritical geothermal energy. But how does it work? And are they even close to realizing their vision?
What does US$21,000 get you in automotive terms? Kia Soul, Chevrolet Trax, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Venue … You see a trend there, right? None of those cars is electric, and none of them are flagships by any stretch. The bZ7 is all that and more!
Scientists have discovered the single largest repository of gold in the world that makes Fort Knox look like a piggy bank. Making up 99.999% of all the precious metal on the planet, it's just sitting there for the taking. However, there is a catch.
Bürstner has teased some impressive new vehicle debuts ahead of the world's largest RV show. Among them, the Signature series subtly deletes the division between camper van and motorhome with a sleek, semi-integrated body and transformable interior.
Back in 2014, e-mobility company AEMotion set out to "combine the agility of a motorcycle with the safety profile of a four-wheeled vehicle." After much prototyping, its two-person tilting creation is up for pre-order ahead of production next year.