Lifestyle
The latest news on health, home innovation, design, architecture and outdoor living.
Ineos Grenadier Raidbox camper kit kicks off new era of 4x4 micro-RVs
January 30, 2024
French supplier Capvango has introduced one of the world's first camping systems for the Ineos Grenadier. The sleek kit packs the cooking and in-vehicle sleeper capabilities adventurous souls need for a few nights out in the Highlands or Outback.
Health & Wellbeing
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Has COVID set us up for a major heart disease epidemic? It’s happened before
April 18, 2024Researchers suggest the 1918 influenza pandemic caused a wave of heart disease in the 20th century. With new evidence showing the impact of COVID on our hearts, could this recent pandemic be setting us up for another century of cardiac problems? -
How much dietary fiber do you need to reduce high blood pressure?
April 09, 2024There's been no guide on how much dietary fiber you need to eat to reduce blood pressure – until now. A new study has confirmed that it has an effect independent of medication and quantifies just how much is needed to directly impact high blood pressure. -
Toilet flush tests reveal just how nasty it is to leave the lid up
April 07, 2024When it comes to toilet etiquette, do you put the lid down before you flush, or leave it up? A new study has shown just what happens when you leave it up – and the results might have you questioning just what you do behind closed doors.
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Outdoors
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SkyNest modular hammock tent works as a whole or in pieces
April 17, 2024The SkyNest combines a hammock, bug mesh net and rainfly in a single package that can be used all together or in its separate components. It's claimed to be roomier than other hammock tents, and easier to set up. -
3-wheel tank-track motorcycle crawls over the most brutal terrain
April 17, 2024Bet you haven't seen one of these before! This unique single-track all-terrain vehicle rocks three wheels with massive balloon tires inside a proprietary monotrack system, driven by a grunty electric motor. But... How do you steer the thing? -
Acoustic navigational tech gets scuba divers using GPS maps
April 16, 2024Because GPS doesn't work underwater, divers usually can't track their real-time position on a digital map. The new Diver Navigation System (DNS) gets around that problem, however, using both floating and wearable acoustic transponders.
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Tiny Houses
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Video: Mi Casita tiny house rewrites the book on space-saving design
April 15, 2024Despite its modest length of just 26 ft, the Mi Casita tiny house has a space-saving interior that fits in the kind of features we'd usually expect in a much larger model, including a bathroom with a tub and a downstairs bedroom. -
Sherpa tiny house takes a modern approach to space-saving design
April 09, 2024Baluchon's Sherpa tiny house features a modern exterior design that riffs on a previous model by the firm. It sleeps two people, plus a couple of guests at a pinch, and incorporates a well thought-out space-saving interior. -
Shipping container transformed into clever space-saving tiny house
April 03, 2024Madeiguincho has created an attractive tiny house from a humble shipping container. The firm heavily modified the metal box, adding a rooftop terrace and a space-saving interior that opens up to the outside via an operable wall section.
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Architecture
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USA's tallest building approved for Oklahoma City
April 18, 2024Officials have given the thumbs up for a new tallest skyscraper in the United States – and it's not headed for New York City or Chicago, but to a tornado-prone area with a relatively small population: Oklahoma City. -
Carbon-capturing concrete walls conceal a quirky Japanese house
April 17, 2024The production of concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions, however Nendo showcases a greener alternative with its Block-Wall House, which was part-built using a novel concrete that actually captures carbon-dioxide. -
Boeing 737 becomes a spectacular cliff-hanging luxury home
April 16, 2024This extraordinary residence is crafted from the fuselage of a Boeing 737 and perched on the edge of a cliffside in Bali. It has received a new luxurious interior, including a bedroom with a jacuzzi in the cockpit.
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Around the Home
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Review: Latest Landroid robo-mower could do with a tad more Vision
April 16, 2024We've now spent several months with the latest wire-free Landroid robo-mower, and we've found it a mix of confusing, educational, satisfying and highly entertaining. Oddly enough, the one thing the Vision seems to need... is a bit more vision. -
No outdoor outlet? Power Mole transmits electricity through window glass
March 25, 2024The Power Mole wirelessly transmits 10 watts of electricity through window glass, allowing indoor outlets to power outdoor devices. It's built on the inductive coupling technology utilized in wireless smartphone charging systems. -
Video: First stair-climbing robo-vacuum stretches its folding legs
March 22, 2024Migo Robotics' Ascender is the world's first stair-climbing robotic vacuum cleaner and floor mop. People certainly seem to like the idea, as its just-launched Kickstarter campaign has already racked up almost $2 million in pledges.
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Good Thinking
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Movement at the top in 2024 World University Rankings
April 13, 2024The 2024 QS World University Rankings were released this week, and with three new key metrics added to the scoring process, several universities have rocketed to the international forefront, while traditional icons are being pushed below the fold. -
Personal 'invisibility shield' goes on sale, starting under $70
March 27, 2024If you've ever wished that you could turn invisible, here's your chance. A consumer "invisibility shield" has just hit Kickstarter, and it could be yours for as little as £54 (about US$68). -
Video: Heat-gun-toting robot could create bespoke clothing on the cheap
March 09, 2024Custom-fit clothing is usually quite expensive, but perhaps it doesn't have to be. MIT's 4D Knit Dress is an example of a new type of clothing that a robot could selectively shrink to fit the wearer, perhaps right in the store.
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Children
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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. -
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.
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Remarkable People
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Lanny Smoot: First Disney Imagineer inducted into Inventors Hall of Fame
January 21, 2024With more than 100 patents, illustrious inventor Lanny Smoot is making history as the first Disney Imagineer to be inducted into the National Engineers Hall of Fame. The only other employee from The Walt Disney Company to do so is Walt Disney himself. -
High-tech entrepreneur Brett Adcock on Figure, Archer, and early success
October 02, 2023Brett Adcock has co-founded two companies on the bleeding edges of innovation in emerging markets: Archer Aviation, in the world of eVTOL aircraft, and Figure, in humanoid robots. We look into his background, and the startup that launched it all. -
SR-71 pilot, photographer and storyteller Brian Shul dies at 75
May 21, 2023The aviation world has lost one of its brightest luminaries. Major Brian Shul was an incredible survivor and a top gun pilot – but also a gifted photographer and storyteller, whose stories about the extraordinary SR-71 Blackbird will live forever.
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Pets
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1,000 American dogs required for life extension drug trial
February 04, 2024An 11-year-old Whippet called Boo is the first dog enrolled in a study to trial a drug designed to extend the healthy lifespan of senior dogs of almost all sizes. The researchers are looking for pawticipants across the US to enroll in the study. -
ZeroMouse blocks home access to carcass-carrying kitties
November 27, 2023RFID cat flaps are great for keeping animals from wandering into your house, but they don't stop your cat from bringing dead animals into said dwelling. The ZeroMouse was designed to address that shortcoming, by blocking access to cats carrying prey. -
Fat cats: Study reveals the effects of obesity on feline digestion
November 02, 2023A new study has revealed how overeating affects a cat’s digestion and gut microbiome. The greater understanding provided by the study may help to prevent pet obesity and the health problems associated with it.
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Holiday Destinations
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"Hologram zoo" opens in Australia
July 26, 2023Axiom Holographics has opened a unique family attraction in Brisbane, Australia, a kind of augmented reality zoo built around a much larger version of Euclideon's multi-viewpoint 3D display tables and Unlimited Detail graphics engine. -
111 Resources, ideas & opportunities for people who can "work from anywhere"
March 23, 2023The collective mindset change that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have begun a societal revolution that may well return us to our nomadic origins. We've collected a list of resources available for those who can work-from-anywhere. -
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.
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