Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News

Soft robots get a tiny soft pump to move their bodies

June 12, 2026 | Etiido Uko
Soft robots have a “cardiovascular” problem. While their bodies can deform, their hearts, the pumps that keep them moving, have remained bulky and rigid. Researchers have developed a tiny, powerful pump that doesn’t require any mechanical components.

VW T7 camper van is a California-style rig with a toilet and a twist

June 10, 2026 | C.C. Weiss
Trakka has a long history of turning Volkswagen's various vans into Outback-ready expedition machines. Now it focuses attention on turning VW's newest van into a more versatile, rugged, comfortable camper with an options sheet that trumps VW's own.

Airstream's cheapest camper van goes full chameleon with flex layout

June 12, 2026 | C.C. Weiss
Airstream expands its most affordable camper van series with the new 21PL. The newest member of the Rangeline family features a floor plan that's every bit as capable and comfortable for 4 people as it is for 2, without any need for a pop-up roof.

Top Stories

Nuclear energy in the West took another step forward as the first privately developed, non-light-water reactor to go critical in the United States in more than 40 years reached a major milestone when the Antares Nuclear Mark-0 test reactor came online at Idaho National Laboratory.
In a historic first, two US Army crew members from an AH-64 Apache helicopter forced down near the coast of Oman were rescued within two hours by a US Navy Saronic Corsair drone boat operated by the 5th Fleet's Task Force 59.
The Berenstein Bear is an extra-wide tiny house that's firmly focused on maximizing comfort. It provides a spacious interior that includes a large living area, a generous kitchen, ground-floor master bedroom, and even a bathtub.
Picture a surgical robot that can move, cut tissue, release drugs, grip and store samples, and generate heat. You most likely didn't imagine a robot that can fit in your hands. Yet, scientists have created a 5-in-1 robot that fits on your fingertip!
Mammoth Overland fuses together two of its most creative builds into a roomy, prepper-grade survival safe room that moves with you. From comfy family camping to all-out apocalyptic escape, the XLE might be the best civilian trailer out there.
The real Sagrada Familia has been under construction for more than 140 years, but Lego's new replica should hopefully prove a little quicker to assemble. Featuring just over 12,000 pieces, it's Lego's largest set to date.

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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
In a breakthrough study, researchers have found that the world's most common type of arthritis – osteoarthritis (OA) – actually has a single core driver with clean-cut molecular pathways. It paves the way for much better treatment.
Grabbing that late-night kebab or pizza slice after a few drinks may not be a sign of poor willpower, but a biological drive that once would have seen us seek protein but now leads us straight into the comforting arms of savory ultra-processed foods.
The marsupial may be a rare find in the wild these days, but they've nearly been wiped off the planet before. This study rewrites our understanding of the genetic history of koalas – and overturns the theories about what caused their ancient decline.
For the first time, researchers have linked a gene thought to be responsible for ulcerative colitis with a mechanism of attack, opening the way to new diagnostic tools and opportunities for more targeted treatment.
The US has broken a two-decade drought with the Food and Drug Administration adding bemotrizinol to the list of approved active ingredients that can be used in sunscreen, paving the way for more effective protection from ultraviolet radiation.
A novel way to brew coffee without boiling water or high pressure harnesses the power of sound waves, slashing time and energy.

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Editor's Picks

Despite its critics and moves toward electrification, the internal combustion engine is not yet dead. Though its design for passenger vehicles may have begun to reach its apex with Mazda’s Skyactiv designs.
Originally envisioned as a Tesla Model 3 hatch camper, the Wheelhome Dashaway ECT micro-camping trailer eventually got its own wheels. It's still ready for efficient e-camping and furnishes travelers with everything they need to live in comfort.
Generally Honda is the major Japanese automaker pushing out a fast, ferocious new side-by-side. This time, it's Toyota, which shows a radical side-x-side that delivers an extra 50+ hp over any production SxS out there.
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.
While there are many uses for soft-bodied robots, the things are still only built in small batches. Scientists are out to change that, with a mass-production-capable soft bot that is 3D-printed in a single piece which walks off of the print bed.
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.
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.
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.