Lifestyle
The latest news on health, home innovation, design, architecture and outdoor living.
Fermented vs. high-fiber diet microbiome study delivers surprising results
July 15, 2021
Investigating the relationship between diet, gut bacteria and systemic inflammation, Stanford University researchers found just a few weeks of following a diet rich in fermented foods can improve microbiome diversity and reduce inflammatory biomarkers.
Health & Wellbeing
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Magnetically guided particles temporarily lower sperm count in mice
July 28, 2021When it comes to contraceptives, men typically have to remember to use a condom, or get a difficult-to-reverse vasectomy. There may soon be a new option, however, in the form of injected particles that are magnetically guided to the testes. -
Chronic pain found to alter brain chemistry and emotion regulation
July 27, 2021Australian scientists have found chronic pain is associated with lower levels of key neurotransmitters in the brain. It is believed this chemical disruption plays a role in the difficulties people with chronic pain have in regulating negative emotions. -
The hunt for an antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 at home
July 27, 2021As the US Government invests billions of dollars into COVID-19 antiviral research, scientists are racing to develop a pill that people can take at home to treat the disease in its earliest stages.
Outdoors
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Living Vehicle's shiny new $500k camping trailer can charge an EV
July 29, 2021Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer designed both for short-term trips and long-term getaways, kitted out with upgraded energy systems to push the boundaries of off-grid living. -
Rux collapsible gear boxes carry essentials to distant base camps
July 29, 2021Canadian startup Rux finds a balance between the hard box and the soft packing cube to create a more purposeful all-carry option. Its Rux 70 adventure bag is designed to pack like a box, carry like a bag, and strap down like a ruggedized case. -
FireCan offers a forest-friendly alternative to wood-burning campfires
July 29, 2021Given how hot and dry much of North America has been this year, traditional campfires are currently banned in many regions. The FireCan offers an alternative, as it's a portable propane-powered fire pit that sits above the ground.
Tiny Houses
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Nugget tiny house doubles up on staircases and storage space
July 29, 2021Build Tiny's new model, named the Nugget, squeezes two storage-integrated staircases into its compact interior. Its space-saving layout also includes a bedroom and a home office, plus lots of storage space throughout the home. -
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Piwakawaka tiny house puts small living on the level
July 27, 2021Build Tiny has designed a tiny house with a compact layout that's all on one level. Named the Piwakawaka, it features a well-stocked kitchen, and a bedroom and living room that open up to the outside with double glass doors.
Architecture
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Museum designed to showcase carbon fiber will be built from it too
July 30, 2021Carlo Ratti Associati once designed a tomato factory made out of tomato jars, so it should come as no surprise that its carbon fiber museum will be built using carbon fiber. It will showcase products and detail how the versatile material is made. -
Beautiful bamboo community center is built to last
July 30, 2021VTN Architects' Casamia Community House is the latest example of the firm's skill with bamboo. It's designed to be durable and withstand severe weather, and features an intricate arched ceiling that reaches a maximum height of almost 9 m. -
Zero Waste kitchen targets cleaner, greener cooking
July 28, 2021Architect Ivana Steiner has created a zero-waste kitchen designed to take the effort out of living a zero-waste lifestyle. Inspired after visiting several "unpacked" shops in Vienna, she created the perfect low-fuss waste-free kitchen.
Around the Home
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Sony helps set the mood with lantern speaker that flickers like a candle
July 14, 2021Subdued lighting and good music can help set a relaxing tone for the porch party or campout, but instead of having to break out separate devices, Sony has launched a portable lamp/speaker that offers 360-degree sound and puts out a candle-like glow. -
Student-designed device could soon be protecting homes from fires
July 06, 2021Most of us can't afford homes with fire-extinguishing sprinklers built into the ceiling … and that's where FACE is designed to come in. It's a self-contained, heat-activated fire suppression device that's mounted in the user's home, wherever needed. -
Samsung's latest robot vac uses AI to recognize small obstacles
June 25, 2021Samsung is claiming a few world firsts with its latest robot vacuum cleaner. The Jet Bot AI+ is said to be the first to feature an active stereo-type 3D sensor for object detection, and the first equipped with Intel AI for object recognition.
Good Thinking
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New solar still uses a rotating cylinder to produce more potable water
July 30, 2021In many arid regions, people use devices known as solar stills to extract drinkable water from seawater or tainted water. A new type of solar still is claimed to be much more effective than others, by incorporating a rotating cylinder. -
Spring-loaded screw could be a cheaper form of soundproofing
July 08, 2021Nobody likes hearing their neighbors' music or loud conversations. Soundproof wall materials, however, can be quite expensive. Swedish scientists have developed a thinner, less costly alternative, in the form of a spring-loaded sound-damping screw. -
Student designs device to save stabbing victims' lives
July 05, 2021When someone is suffering from a deep stab wound, it's important to apply pressure within that wound. A new student-designed device is intended to let first responders do just that, potentially saving lives that might otherwise be lost.
Children
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Lego reveals first ever bricks made from recycled plastic bottles
June 28, 2021Lego has been taking steps toward more sustainable practices and has just revealed the first prototype of its classic brick element crafted from recycled plastic that meets the company's quality and safety requirements. -
High-resolution microscope is built with Lego and cheap smartphone lenses
June 23, 2021By taking advantage of recent advances in smartphone technology and the infinite possibilities of Lego, scientists in Germany have built a cheap and easy high-resolution microscope that is part educational tool and part toy. -
World-record $145,445 paid for Ferrari 330 P2 Replica children's car
February 15, 2021A Ferrari 330 P2 Junior by French coach-builder De La Chapelle sold for the astonishing world-record price of €110,000 (US$133,325) at an RM-Sotheby's auction in Paris on February 13.
Remarkable People
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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. -
How the invention of cut and paste helped change software forever
February 21, 2020After the death of Larry Tesler this week, New Atlas takes a brief look back at the invention of those now-ubiquitous computer commands: cut, copy and paste.
Pets
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Biometric ID app knows lost dogs by their noses
April 28, 2021Just like our fingerprints, the shape and pattern of each dog's nose is unique to that animal. Bearing this in mind, pet food company Iams has launched a "nose-centric" app for identifying lost dogs – appropriately enough, it's called NOSEiD. -
Omnidirectional robot shoots out treats for home-alone pets
December 21, 2020Earlier this year, we heard about a pet-entertaining/treat-dispensing robot known as Pumpkii. Although its crowdfunding campaign was cancelled, the similar Rocki is now available for purchase. -
Companion Collar combines Bluetooth and GPS to track pets near and far
November 05, 2020A new prototype Companion Collar smart collar is being developed by the CSIRO's digital specialist arm, Data61, and agtech company Ceres Tag that will allow pet owners to track their animal across both long and short distances.
Holiday Destinations
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World's deepest pool plunges divers into a sunken city in Dubai
July 15, 2021Not content with boasting the world's tallest building, the world's largest mall and a host of other forward-thinking ventures that include flying taxis and firefighters with jetpacks, Dubai has now opened the deepest swimming pool in the world. -
Silent Yachts pushes ahead with solar-powered floating villa concept
September 21, 2020Known for expanding the boundaries of e-powered ocean navigation, Silent Yachts has turned to vacation resorts. By using its solarized electric catamarans as floating condos, it'd create seaside resorts that are light, flexible and ready to deploy. -
Iceland's Sky Lagoon will offer visitors amazing ocean views
June 22, 2020Visitors to Iceland will soon be able to take a dip in a new geothermal lagoon. The under-construction Sky Lagoon will provide amenities like a sauna, bar, and cold water pools – but the big draw with this one is going to be its amazing ocean views.
