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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With its modest length of 20 ft, the Tulsi doesn't have a whole lot of room for life's luxuries. Still, the tiny house manages to fit the essentials for downsizing into its compact towable frame – and does so at an affordable price.
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.

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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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Editor's Picks

Huawei's latest piece of gear is wild. The MateBook Fold Ultimate Design looks like a 13-inch laptop on the outside, until you open it to reveal an 18-inch foldable screen that's just 7.3 mm thick. For reference, an iPhone 16 has a depth of 7.8 mm.
The Kimbo camper has always felt to us less an RV and more a stylish backcountry hut secured to a pickup bed. Now, Kimbo makes that hut a little larger by launching an 8-foot model for full-size trucks.
Researchers have discovered a new way to potentially treat liver disease. By blocking a key inflammatory pathway it could be possible to reduce liver damage and improve blood vessel function in patients suffering cirrhosis.
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.
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.
There's a new contender for the US Navy's F/A-XX Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and it looks like something out of Batman's hangar thanks to a peculiar triple-fuselage design.
This month marks 80 years since one of the most influential yet underrated inventions burst onto the market in New York on October 29, 1945. The Biro may seem unremarkable, but it fast became part of our everyday lives and revolutionized communications.
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.