Lifestyle
The latest news on health, home innovation, design, architecture and outdoor living.
Do you even lift? Lowering weights may be faster route to muscle growth
November 07, 2022
Scientists have offered new insights into what the most efficient workouts might look like, with a new study demonstrating that a focus on lowering weights rather than lifting them may be a more effective way to increase muscle mass.
Health & Wellbeing
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Humble tea’s antidepressant properties confirmed
March 19, 2023A tea that’s been around for more than 900 years might be just what the doctor ordered as a treatment for depression. Already renowned for its health benefits, researchers have now demonstrated matcha tea’s antidepressant-like effects. -
Hibiscus extract shows promise as natural weight-loss supplement
March 17, 2023For some people who are morbidly obese, changes in diet and lifestyle just aren't sufficient to shed all the extra weight. A new study suggests that a hibiscus flower extract could help, without the side effects of weight-loss drugs. -
Higher blood caffeine levels may reduce weight, risk of type 2 diabetes
March 15, 2023The health benefits of caffeine have been studied for years. Researchers have examined the genes associated with caffeine metabolism to see whether blood caffeine levels affect body fat levels and risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
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Outdoors
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Hive portable hammock stand doubles the hang wherever you roam
March 20, 2023We've seen many portable hammock stands over the years, and virtually all of them share one thing in common: they hold just one hammock. The new Yobogear Hive stand travels anywhere to make treeless hammocking a couples-friendly affair. -
Modular micro-camper builds from basic sleeper to beastly adventurer
March 17, 2023Born in the heart of American road trip country, Zion Off-Road has developed a more modular breed of camping trailer. It can be ordered bone stock and accessorized up over time from basic towable sleeping pod to expedition-ready backcountry retreat. -
Tentsla adds a four-person tent to the back of a Tesla Model Y
March 17, 2023While we've seen several camping concepts which incorporate the Tesla Cybertruck, chances are most of us will never own such a vehicle. The Tentsla X1 tent, however, is aimed at the existing – and widely owned – Tesla Model Y SUV.
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Tiny Houses
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Crystal-shaped timber cabin assembles like a "game of LEGO"
March 14, 2023Wiki World has recently finished installing a sustainable cabin that pops up easily, while minimizing its impact on the environment. Sprite Cabin consists of a timber crystal-like structure with three peaked volumes that combine to create a modern hut. -
Novel micro-cabin concertinas down for between-use storage
March 10, 2023Here's a novel take on tiny living that could be a good fit as a home office or guest accommodation for those with limited space. Named the Iwi, the concertina-like structure can be compressed into a much smaller size and stowed away when not in use. -
Jet-shaped tiny house is ready for takeoff
February 17, 2023Hello Wood recently completed a remarkable new tiny house named the Jet House. Designed to look like a whimsical cartoon depiction of an airplane, the unique dwelling includes authentic plane seating and an overhead locker.
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Architecture
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Recycled plastic bottles and mud help form remarkable twisting residence
March 21, 2023Likened to a snake coiling under a rock on a hot day, the Chuzhi house is defined by its intricate twisting roof. The ambitious residence was constructed using sustainable building techniques, including the use of 4,000 recycled plastic bottles. -
World's largest spokeless Ferris wheel to become striking gateway to Seoul
March 20, 2023The Seoul Metropolitan Government has revealed plans to build the world's largest spokeless Ferris wheel. The huge metallic ring will rise an impressive 180 m over the South Korean landscape, and host almost 1,500 passengers per hour. -
Icon takes the initiative with affordable 3D-printed homes competition
March 15, 2023Leading 3D printing firm Icon has revealed an ambitious competition that aims to revolutionize affordable housing. Named Initiative 99, it will solicit designs for 3D-printed homes that can be constructed for under $99,000.
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Around the Home
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The Coop is a 21st-Century take on the humble chicken coop
March 20, 2023You might think that the ol' wood-and-wire chicken coop is one thing that's ineligible for a high-tech makeover. The designers of a camera- and alarm-equipped chicken home known as The Coop, however, would be inclined to disagree. -
Desktop hand warmer uses focused IR LEDs to beat the chill
March 10, 2023Folks who work on a computer at home, and also suffer from cold hands, can find keeping their digits toasty during winter months an expensive problem. Danish startup Varme has sought to address such issues with a power-sipping desktop hand warmer. -
Pro-Ject gets in the groove to help clean your vinyl records
February 21, 2023The return of vinyl records may have prompted legacy album spinners to dust off some attic classics. Folks looking to remove accumulated gunk from the grooves will be interested to learn that Austria's Pro-Ject has launched two new cleaning machines.
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Good Thinking
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Tractor-towed Vulcan automatically spots and pulls weeds
March 10, 2023Nobody likes the idea of herbicides in their veggies, yet hiring workers to pick weeds by hand can be prohibitively expensive. The Vulcan farm implement offers an alternative, as it automatically spots and yanks weeds while leaving crop plants alone. -
Simple process converts fruit waste into water-purifying material
March 03, 2023Solar stills provide a clever and simple means of purifying dirty or salty water, but they work at a rather slow rate. A new material has been shown to boost their performance, and it's made from fruit waste which would otherwise be discarded. -
DIY-oriented titanium multitool features oxygen wrench
February 28, 2023The Triangle multitool from Disc features 14 different tools, most of which seem just right for a DIYer who encounters a lot of building projects without a proper toolbox on hand. It even has an oxygen wrench and an earbud holder you may never use.
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Children
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Review: Turing Tumble lets kids build complex marble-powered computers
November 14, 2022Minnesota company Upper Story has sent us its Turing Tumble, a fascinating educational toy that quietly tricks kids into inventing binary logic computers using nothing more than tiny marbles dropping through a series of clicky-clacky plastic pieces. -
Shark Wheel proves it's cool to be square with mini electric cars for kids
June 28, 2022Back in 2013, California-based startup Shark Wheel hit Kickstarter with a very odd-looking cube-shaped skateboard wheel. Now the company has supersized the design for a pair of funky electric cars for kids – the Shark SUV and the Shark UTV. -
Infalurt warns drivers of babies forgotten in cars
March 18, 2022If a driver is preoccupied, or if there's a disruption to their routine, they can forget and leave their baby in their car – if that car then gets too hot, the result can be lethal. The Infalurt Child Safety System is designed to keep such scenarios from unfolding.
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Remarkable People
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Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance found after 107 years under the ice
March 09, 2022The wreck of one of the most famous exploration ships in history has been located. Using a robotic submersible, the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust has found Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance, which was crushed in the Antarctic pack ice in 1915. -
Interview: Rocket-bike pilot Eddie Braun on his new Stuntman film
July 25, 2021New Atlas was at Snake River Canyon five years ago when Eddie Braun spectacularly finished the terrifying rocket bike jump that nearly killed Evel Knievel. The event is now a gorgeous documentary on Disney+, and we sat down with Braun to reminisce. -
Big, bold and beautiful: The incredible art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude
June 03, 2020The artist Christo recently passed away at the age of 84. For decades, he and his wife Jeanne-Claude made headlines with their striking and provocative artworks, such as installing a giant orange curtain between two mountain slopes in Colorado.
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Pets
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Georgia Tech system promises camera-free in-home pet tracking
August 31, 2022While many dog (or cat) owners would like to know what their pet does all day while left home alone, they don't necessarily want a bunch of cameras placed inside their house. The PetTrack system offers a less intrusive alternative, as it keeps tabs on pets via radio signals. -
Smart pet door lets your furry friends in, keeps critters out
June 21, 2022Installing a pet door can be a great way to allow your furry friend to come and go as they please, but sometimes leads to unwanted visitors too. Petvation is looking to change that with the help of AI facial recognition and a mobile app. -
Clever self-cleaning litter box takes the stench out of managing cat waste
June 02, 2022There’s no question cats are cute and cuddly – just ask the internet. But viral cat videos don’t tend to highlight the messy business of dealing with your cat's messy business. Tokyo-based Popur thinks its new system lays waste to the competition.
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Holiday Destinations
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Airbnb lets visitors haunt the halls of the Phantom of the Opera's home
February 21, 2023Airbnb regularly offers the chance to stay in one-of-a-kind places, and has now teamed up with Palais Garnier, the Paris opera house which inspired the Phantom of the Opera novel, to offer a night of luxury and a rare look behind the scenes. -
Japanese concept camper car lives like a rolling slopeside igloo
February 10, 2022Japan's Hoshino Resorts skips the ski lodge-inspired camper van concept and goes a different route. Its adorable Camakuruma mini-motorhome concept brings the cool, icy feel of an igloo inside to blend inconspicuously with its alpine surrounds. -
World's largest aquarium nears completion in Abu Dhabi
October 26, 2021A massive marine park entering its final phase of construction in the United Arab Emirates will invite visitors to enjoy an aquarium housing an astounding 68,000 marine animals once completed sometime next year.
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