Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
3rd-Gen multitool packs 20 functions into funky key form
May 13, 2026
| Maryna Holovnova
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.
NASA pushes next-gen Mars helicopter rotors through the sound barrier
May 13, 2026
| Omar Kardoudi
Flying on Mars isn't just hard, it may be the hardest thing you can do in aerospace engineering – and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in California has just broken through one of its biggest barriers yet.
Robo-octopus gripper goes limp to grapple, stiffens to lift
May 13, 2026
| Malcolm Azania
Using arms to swim, crawl, sort, and grip, the Octopus-Inspired Upward Transport Robot (OUT-Robot) employs an inflatable “head” for zero-energy underwater ascent. It could offer a significant boost for oceanic exploration and resource extraction.
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This extra-wide tiny house features a spacious interior specifically designed to make full-time small living comfortable. Arranged on a single floor, it includes a generous living area and two bedrooms.
Quaise Energy isn't chasing the geothermal energy where Earth has already put hot rocks near the surface. Quaise is trying to make geothermal work almost anywhere on the planet, by drilling deeper than we ever have before ... with masers.
Aging in a tiny house might not be easy if you have to contend with ladders and low ceilings, but with its extra-wide, primarily single-floor layout, the Rose has been designed from the ground (or wheels) up for long-term small living.
Another fiberglass "egg" camper badge hits the ground rolling into the off-grid camping market. Following the first-ever off-road camper in Scamp's history, fellow composite trailer builder Oliver is launching an off-grid-ready caravan of its own.
The James Brand has completely reimagined its Ellis multitool into the ultra-slim Ellis knife. Thinner than a pack of gum and shorter than an Apple TV remote, the new Ellis is designed to disappear away ... right up until it's needed.
The world's largest sailing cruise ship has a name: the Orient Express Corinthian. The first of the Silenseas class, incorporating a number of high-tech features, has officially been christened at the Joubert graving dock in Saint-Nazaire, France.
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May 13, 2026 | Adam WilliamsIn a world dominated by rectangular glass towers, this supertall skyscraper takes a different approach. It features a twisting form wrapped in thousands of terracotta fins that help cool the building in Dubai's scorching heat. -
May 13, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalScrewdriver sets with multiple bits are a dime a dozen, but if you're working on smaller projects or struggling with screws in tight corners, a ratchet screwdriver is a better bet. And that's where the A06 looks like the right tool for the job. -
May 13, 2026 | Monica J. WhitereMarkable’s new Paper Pure model refines the company’s digital notebook concept with a faster E Ink display, longer battery life, AI-powered workflow tools, and tighter cloud integration.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Andes virus is serious, and authorities are right to respond cautiously. But experts, including those from the World Health Organization, note it doesn’t have the characteristics needed to become “the next COVID”.
Sound waves have been used to create a microscopic barrier from the environment, and can be used on fragile materials. Scientists demonstrated the tech on houseplant leaves, where it blocked damaging UV rays without impeding photosythensis.
All I wanted to do was get rid of my glasses, but when my local laser eye surgery clinic recommended some odd-sounding, advanced Presbyond treatment developed by Zeiss, I said sure, if that's what the cool kids are getting. Here's what's happened.
Researchers have used satellite data to uncover evidence of methane breaking down above the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption, forcing scientists to rethink how methane actually cycles through the atmosphere.
Infections around the time of pregnancy may leave lasting marks on the developing brain of children. The new research adds to growing evidence that the immune environment during pregnancy may play a role in shaping long-term brain health.
Researchers at MIT have suggested that rice seeds can hear the sound of rain, according to a new study. MIT calls it “the first direct evidence that plant seeds and seedlings can sense sounds in nature”.
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May 12, 2026 | David Szondy"Ghost ships" may not be able to hide on the high seas much longer thanks to new technology being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The system uses a dynamic satellite camera and advanced data processing to visually track ships in real time. -
May 12, 2026 | Chris YoungThe 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. -
May 12, 2026Most water bottles do one thing. The Super Maxi fits your whole routine. With accessories for tea, coffee and protein, Ever Vessel’s award-winning 1L water bottle becomes a versatile drinking system, and it’s got a Red Dot design award to prove it. -
May 12, 2026 | C.C. WeissOvrlnd has built out a miniaturized camping topper sized to a 1980 Mini 95 pickup that measures comparably to a Japanese kei car. And though the rig looks more like a toy at first, it offers 6.5 feet of standing room inside and a comfy double bed. -
May 12, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaDogosophy is a gadget designed to help service dogs become better assistants while also considering the animals’ abilities. It’s a wireless button that allows dogs to control household appliances, and it can be a life-changing tool for many people. -
May 12, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaModern running shoes rely on combinations of materials for energy efficiency, but this makes them almost impossible to recycle. Researchers at the Fraunhofer group are working on a single-material design that could make full recycling possible. -
May 12, 2026 | Paul RiddenWhether your laptop is your main source of income or you just use it for entertainment, running out of juice just when things get interesting can be a major annoyance. The Edge power bank has been designed to alleviate such things.
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Editor's Picks
The typical charging time for an ebike is measured in hours, but Morelle looks to slash that unit to minutes to create the world's fastest charging ebike. The new bike also looks to be as sleek and lightweight as it is convenient to charge.
Dinosaurs may be long extinct, but 2025 made it clear that they’re anything but settled science. New fossils, reanalyses of famous specimens and increasingly sophisticated tools have helped us learn more about how they lived, moved, fed and evolved.
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.
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.
If you've ever found yourself in a dead zone, maybe you find solace in the quiet. Or maybe you've found yourself in an emergency and help is not coming. Either way, the ability to connect if and when you need to has its merits.
There's newfound interest in a little-known fleshy green fruit native to the Americas, which has long been used in traditional medicine for protection against bacterial infection and even preventing and treating many cancers. But what exactly is it?
Who could possibly compare to Superman, the Man of Steel? Definitely not a man of plastic! Right? Wrong. Scientists have discovered that unconventionally shaped plastics may rival steel bars as reinforcement materials in construction concrete.
Boxabl's latest tiny home creation, the Baby Box, is an ultra-compact, foldable tiny home. It's designed to be so easy and simple to construct that one person, without any tools, can set it up and start living the tiny life. And it's cheap.