New Atlas

Robotics Audio available

Autonomous bot is good to go, for clearing snow

Ben Coxworth February 21, 2019

If there's one thing that many North American cities need this winter, it's help in snow removal. That's likely why Colorado-based Left Hand Robotics is currently sold out of its SnowBot Pro, which autonomously brushes snow off of sidewalks while avoiding pedestrians.

The SnowBot Pro is powered by a gas engine, and automatically avoids obstacles

Environment Audio available

Cloud study shows how planes can significantly boost rainfall in their path

Michael Irving February 3, 2019

Aircraft have been known to mess with the clouds as they pass through or over them. A new study has found that planes could be boosting rainfall and snowfall by up to 10 times, and examined the microphysics behind it.

A new study shows how planes can affect clouds, boosting rainfall up to 10 times in ...

Environment

New NASA photos offer closer look at bizarre rectangular Antarctic icebergs

Rich Haridy October 24, 2018

A few days ago NASA’s IceBridge project hit the news, but not for any scientific observations. Instead, a photo of a strange rectangular iceberg captured people’s imagination. Now, NASA has offered up a few more shots of this unusual sight, helping explain this common yet rarely seen phenomenon.

Just past the rectangular iceberg, which is visible from behind the outboard engine, IceBridge saw another ...

Automotive

Studded snow tires cost lives, says study

James Holloway October 2, 2018

Studded tires are a popular choice in northern climes come winter, thanks to the extra grip they afford on ice and compacted snow. But new research from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden says they actually cost more lives than they save.

Some 60 percent of Swedish drivers fit studded tires for winter, but research suggests they actually ...

Outdoors

Multipurpose snow shovel plows, scrapes and squeegees

Nick Lavars May 30, 2018

Snow season can pose a number of problems for folks trying to get their day started, but could all these be solved by a single tool? The folks behind the Tusk reckon they’ve got a few scenarios covered with a durable multitool that can be used to shovel snow, scrape ice and squeegee windows.

The Tusk's body is crafted from polymer and glass-filled reinforcements, and the creators make a point ...

Environment

A cracking crust may have turned Earth into a giant snowball

Michael Irving May 7, 2018

Scientists have proposed a whole range of theories for what might have caused the world to freeze over in the "Snowball Earth" period 700 million years ago, and a new study has now suggested the root of them all could have been the beginnings of plate tectonics.

An artist's impression of what our planet may have looked like during the "Snowball Earth" period, ...

Biology

Bacteria found living in polar ice prompts rethink on climate and alien life

Michael Irving December 26, 2017

Bacteria are hardy, but even they have their limits. One of those was previously thought to be polar ice, but a new study has now observed bacteria living in those conditions. That discovery has implications for our understanding of Earth's past climate, as well as life elsewhere in the universe.

Bacteria have been discovered living in polar ice and snow, which was previously thought to be ...

Automotive

GMC All Mountain concept turns snow and steep gradients into a playground

Loz Blain November 30, 2017

GMC has taken its Sierra 2500HD Denali 4WD and turned it into a snow-munching monster with four grippy tank tracks replacing the wheels. The All Mountain concept vehicle looks like an absolute blast as it tears its way up the ski slopes of Whistler in a promo video.

GMC Sierra All Mountain concept: luxury interior meets unstoppable traction

Space

Astonomers may have discovered the universe’s most ironic exoplanet

Anthony Wood October 27, 2017

A team of astronomers may have discovered a “hot Jupiter” exoplanet with an atmosphere that snows titanium oxide – a kind of sunscreen – exclusively on the one side of the planet that is bathed in perpetual darkness.

Artist's impression of Kepler-13Ab orbiting its parent star, Kepler-13A – the planet orbits in a multiple ...

Good Thinking

Spare-Me packs five tools into one snow-ready package

Scott Collie August 1, 2017

Anyone who lives in an area prone to snow will know how important it is to have a shovel and scraper in the car. Thing is, those tools might not be enough to dig you out of a tricky spot. The solution might lie in the Spare-Me, a five-in-one tool designed to help drivers get moving again.

The teeth on the Spare-Me provide extra traction on slippery surfaces