Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News

Some AI models will hurt you to make their pain go away

September 28, 2026 | Mike McRae
A test of AI models has found that some will choose actions that harm the user if it makes their pain go away, raising serious questions about how we might need to consider the welfare of rapidly advancing technology.

Man down: Vale the mighty Joe Salas, a colleague and a brother

September 24, 2026 | Loz Blain
Friends, I write today with tragic news. A treasured member of the New Atlas team has passed away, and it falls to me to pay some small tribute to a wonderful colleague and a close friend, Joe Salas.

Wind-up elastic robot jumps forever when fed infrared light

September 27, 2026 | Malcolm Azania
Using a liquid crystal elastomer cord, these earring-like robots can jump forward three times their body length, and upward 80 times their body height. One day extraplanetary exploration could utilize their descendants as zero-power drones.

Top Stories

Though tiny houses are getting more expensive, there are still cheap and cheerful models out there. This recently completed Fairfax 20' is a single-floor model that sleeps up to two people without breaking the bank.
This spacious park model "tiny house" really isn't so tiny. Instead, it provides an experience closer to a small cottage on wheels, with a large porch and an open, light-filled interior arranged entirely on one level.
The new high-roofed Ford Nugget Twin has officially launched to give buyers a new winter-ready camper van option with four solid walls, space for four people and AWD. The very same roof will soon be available for the Volkswagen T7, as well.
There's no denying that cargo trailers are great for transporting your stuff, but they do occupy a lot of garage space. The Faltos trailer offers a solution to that problem, as you can just fold the thing up like an accordion between uses.
Honda seems to believe its next frontier is building high-tech recreational vehicles. It's just shown off a concept for an electric mountain bike that's nearing production – and it looks pretty sick.
Researchers in Germany have developed a system for fabricating wood-based floor slabs that replace traditional reinforced concrete slabs in construction. They're impressively strong, and use only a third of the concrete needed in conventional slabs.

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This week, talk of the AI bubble bursting has intensified with Google top executive Demis Hassabis throwing some fuel on the fire while discussing the release of the tech company's Gemini 3 model. He also thinks some players will weather the storm.
Shoei has just launched the GT-Air 3 Smart, the world’s first moto helmet to feature fully integrated augmented reality thanks to a partnership with EyeLights, which specializes in head-up displays and Bluetooth audio kits.
The future world's tallest building has passed a major construction milestone. Saudi Arabia's JEC Tower has now reached 102 floors and is rapidly progressing toward its planned height of more than 3,280 ft.
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.
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.
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 world's oldest human fingerprint has been discovered at an archaeological site in Spain. The fingerprint was dated at 43,000 years old and is believed to have come from a Neanderthal.
Researchers have analyzed clinical trial data and ranked 12 different non-drug physical therapy treatments for knee osteoarthritis, based on their effectiveness in reducing pain and stiffness, and improving physical function.