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.
Aotos' Flux X26 cyberpunk-tinged "hybrid" ebike has built on the buzz it generated at CES, raising over US$2.8 million in crowdfunding in a month. The company will begin shipping the specially priced standard and Pro models across the globe in May.
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.
Latest News
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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”.
Latest News
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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
Scientists have uncovered an odd superpower triggered by tapping your finger to a beat – it may help you understand someone talking to you in a noisy place, like at a busy cafe. While it sounds a little woo-woo, there's emerging science behind it.
Ford has debuted a new long-wheelbase variant of its small, efficient Nugget camper van, and this one packs a fully installed toilet ... as well as the kitchen sink. This highly coveted feature makes the new Nugget family better than ever before.
Having a Swiss Army knife is all fun and games until you find yourself wanting to see in the dark, start a fire, drink water straight from a stream, or heck, even charge your phone. Enter the Lifesaber.
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.
Australian defense company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has unveiled its Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon (HELW) that pumps out up to 150 kW of power yet can take out 200 medium-sized drones running on its own internal power supply.
We're one step closer to that elusive goal preventing hair loss and enabling new growth, as scientists identify the crucial role that one all-important protein has in protecting the hard-working cells on the production line.
"You can either go to Vegas, or you can go to The Hacienda," is what got this world-record-setting idea off the ground and into the air for a couple of months. Yep, I said months.
An epidemic that's been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the milestone approval of the first HIV drug that offers 100% protection with its twice-yearly injections. It's a landmark achievement set to save millions of lives.