Technology, Innovation & Outdoor News

NASA's experimental ion engine passes major test, bringing Mars mission closer

May 12, 2026 | Chris Young
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.

First hydrogen helicopter just proved it can fly a real mission

May 11, 2026 | Omar Kardoudi
A modified Robinson R44 completed the first-ever hydrogen helicopter circuit flight in Quebec, Canada, clearing a key hurdle toward FAA and Transport Canada certification for zero-emission organ delivery aircraft.

Tiny pop camper tops the kei-size micro-RV America desperately needs

May 12, 2026 | C.C. Weiss
Ovrlnd 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.

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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.
Saab has developed a new anti-tank round that's designed to take on the modern high-tech armor of the 21st century. Built for Saab's Carl-Gustaf 84-mm (3.31-in) recoilless rifle system, the HEAT 758 munition can even defeat modern reactive armor.

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Health and Science news from our sister site: Refractor
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”.
Observations of a far-distant galaxy several times the size of the Milky Way reveal a surprising stillness overcoming the sea of early stars, suggesting mysterious forces brought its rotation to a rather rapid halt.

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Editor's Picks

There are knives, good knives, great knives, and classic knives. Then there are the knives that are flat-out legends with remarkable stories behind them. One of these is the instantly recognizable Puma White Hunter that redefined the hunting knife.
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.
Some people can’t get their bad cholesterol levels down, even if they take cholesterol-lowering meds. A clinical trial using a combination of existing and not-yet-released cholesterol tablets lowered bad cholesterol by almost half.
A new video takes you inside Dyson's impressive vertical farming operation, which is home to 1,225,000 strawberry plants and shows you how the company is applying its manufacturing knowledge to producing homegrown food for British consumers.
It may surprise some to learn that Polaris has a serious research, development, and testing facility. I got a full tour of the place, along with a dedicated test track that I got to use later.
The Capucine, by Quadrapol, is a compact tiny house for up to two people. Thanks to its open design, which is arranged on one floor, the home is well-suited to retirees and anyone else who doesn't want to deal with the hassle of stairs.
Electra's aircraft looks conventional enough, but it generates ludicrous amounts of lift, to take off and land at incredibly slow speeds, using almost no runway. With US$9 billion in pre-orders, it's outselling anything from the eVTOL world.
Hybrid-electric aircraft maker Pipistrel just ushered its Nuuva V300 electric vertical takeoff and landing craft through a major milestone. A recent video shows it break the chains of gravity and hover midair in a first for the vehicle.