Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News
US Navy and Lockheed Martin test AI sonar system at RIMPAC 2026
August 12, 2026
| David Szondy
AI-equipped helicopters went on the offensive off the islands of Hawaii as the US Navy and Lockheed Martin set two modified Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to hunt submarines using a new AI sonar system as part of the RIMPAC 2026 naval exercises.
Volkswagen's budget camper van stuns with inflatable overhaul
August 11, 2026
| C.C. Weiss
Volkswagen often surprises with its annual Caravan Salon debuts, and this year it's revealing multiple world-first concepts that explore the future of van life. It starts off with a California Beach concept that packs a cabin full of inflatables.
$24k Indian Chief Vintage SD is a confusing reply to Harley's gauntlet
August 12, 2026
| Utkarsh Sood
Just weeks after Harley-Davidson launched its blacked-out, stripped-back Deadwood, Indian has come out swinging with the Chief Vintage Sturgis, SD Edition. But unlike its American rival, the Indian will be produced in limited numbers and at a premium.
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Following almost eight years of construction, work is complete on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. It features an impressive main span of 2,798 ft, making the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.
If you're in the market for a V-twin cruiser with AMT, you’d barely get any options. The closest mainstream offering is Honda's Rebel 1100 DCT, which starts at around US$10,400 – but even that doesn't come with a V-twin. Enter the Rieju Coaster 407.
We wouldn't call the all-new Invento Geo multitool "revolutionary" in the sense of changing the market forever, but it does blend physical revolution into the multitool formula. The result is what could prove a quicker of switching between tools.
The MegCell Pulse is a 3D-printable robotic system that can fit on any acoustic guitar and play music you feed it in a digital tablature format. With this, you can hear compositions rendered right in front of you, no speakers necessary.
At the 2025 Caravan Salon, Bürstner revealed two small motorhomes with shape-shifting interiors. This year, it's adding a new camper van that incorporates transforming features from both those series to create a new sense of space and versatility.
I've relied on USB docks to expand my laptops' connectivity options, both in my home office and on the road, for years. This new one from Cabletime adds a surprisingly versatile screen to earn its keep on your desk.
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August 12, 2026 | C.C. WeissThree seats, one single bed, a large kitchen and a bathroom (or at least a toilet) – that's an odd, mismatched set of specs for any camping vehicle. Nevertheless, it's the exact set that underpins a new Mitsubishi Delica D:2 micro-RV from Wellhouse. -
August 12, 2026Learning piano doesn’t have to mean scheduling weekly lessons—or paying for them. You can get five years of flowkey Classic for just $67.99 (reg. $899), giving you thousands of guided lessons and songs for a one-time payment. -
August 12, 2026 | Maryna HolovnovaModern technology lets us get what we want with one click. A London-based design studio has created an unpredictable speaker with a tiny digital world inside that carries on by itself, generating ever-changing sounds that users have no control over.
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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
Longevity has become a bit of a buzz word, and has become increasingly aligned with the tech industry. But a timely report from Harvard Medical School reminds us that we have a lot of power when it comes to how we age – and it's backed by science.
In somewhat of a surprise announcement, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the first US influenza vaccine engineered from the mRNA technology that gave us one of the most administered COVID-19 shots during the pandemic.
“Remove the plank from your eye before pointing out the speck in another’s,” says a popular proverb. For millions with geographic atrophy, the speck is literal. Relief may now be coming, after a sight-restoring implant received approval for sale in Europe.
An AI present in your consultation promises better notes, less admin and more time for patients, but what exactly is being recorded, where does the data go, and did anyone really ask for your consent?
Hookworms are freeloaders that live at the host’s expense inside their gut, drinking about two drops of blood per day. This parasite could soon pay its way with engineered hookworms serving as living medicine factories.
Sixteen different PFAS compounds have been discovered in the feathers of Antarctic penguins, demonstrating that the insidious spread of "forever chemicals" now reaches the most remote wildlife on Earth.
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August 12, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodJust days after the JCB Hydromax hit 368.347 mph, the hydrogen car has just set a new FIA world land speed record of 406.320 mph. It’s not just the fastest hydrogen-powered car, but also the fastest zero-emission car. -
August 12, 2026 | Abhimanyu GhoshalIris' new solar generator has a handy feature you don't often see on units like these: the ability to follow the sun around the sky. The T1 also a built-in battery to top off your personal gadgets while you're off-grid. -
August 12, 2026 | Adam WilliamsTiny houses usually require a lot of compromises, but the Ellice has fewer than you'd expect. The towable home includes a well-equipped kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms, a bathtub, and tons of storage. -
August 12, 2026 | Simon HeptinstallPortable solar panels have long been a favorite of the off-grid camping and backpacking community, but they're limited by daytime use. Ventyra is aiming to solve this solar gap with an ultra-portable wind turbine called the R1. -
August 12, 2026 | Malcolm AzaniaIf you’ve ever tried 3D-printing anything, you know just how flimsy the results can be. In fact, simply removing them from the build plate can make you sweat, since at any moment the beautiful statuette, replacement part for your refrigerator, or gift for someone special that took 10 hours to print can shatter into a pile of PLA garbage. -
August 11, 2026 | Utkarsh SoodIndian two-wheeler startup Avore has launched a quirky new commuter e-bike called EX2S. It’s unlike most motorcycles you’d spot in the West, focusing on daily commuting, utility, and affordable entry-level mobility. All for under US$1,800! -
August 11, 2026 | David SzondyAutonomous air combat reached a major milestone in the skies over Edwards Air Force Base, California, as the X-62A VISTA test aircraft carried out full AI air intercept missions using live sensor data rather than simulated feeds.
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Editor's Picks
It was cold – but nowhere near what I expected; I’ve been colder in an outdoor swimming pool in Australia. It's part of a global feedback loop, the scale of which I only began to comprehend when I saw this remarkable continent for myself.
The first aceclidine-based eye drop to improve near vision in adults with age-related presbyopia, which affects more than 100 million adults in the US alone, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and will be on sale by November.
The new Auriga Explorer camper truck looks almost as fast and ferocious as a Dakar rig. But it's made for slow travel, the kind that sees you link together wandering days with cozy nights in a mobile 4-person hut expanded by pop-top and 3 slide-outs.
One of the most interesting concepts revealed at this year's Japan Mobility Show was also one of the simplest. The barebones Toyota IMV Origin concept is potentially one of the most versatile vehicles Toyota (or any automaker) has ever built.
Scientists at KIST have built a working electric motor with metal-free windings, replacing copper entirely. It's much lighter and could reshape the future of EVs, drones, and electric aircraft.
The new Gazelle T4 Overland EXP tent serves as a simple, all seasons-ready camping solution. It sets up in minutes via a fast-pitch hub frame and includes enhanced adjustability, multiple climate control options, and a stabilized foundation.
You’ve got to have a trick or two up your sleeve if you intend to break into a crowded EV market. And Indian two-wheeler startup Oben Electric has done just that by pricing its first electric motorcycle to perfection and making it available on Amazon.
For nearly a century, a strange band of 5,200 holes carved into a hillside has defied explanation. Stretching for nearly a mile along the edge of the Pisco Valley, Monte Serpe – "serpent mountain" – may have finally revealed its secrets to scientists.