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A fast-rising name in the hybrid vehicle market, Horse Powertrain has spent the past three years transitioning into one of the world's leading engine manufacturers while developing a portfolio of electric motors, hybrid powertrains and other net-zero-supporting technologies. Now it's looking ahead into the future, showing an early concept version of a next-generation hybrid engine system powered by 100% renewable fuel. The company says the new prototype can boost fuel economy by 40% while slashing literal tons of CO2 emissions.

At any given moment, 89,000 terawatts of solar power hits the Earth’s surface. While significant advancements have been made in harvesting this power, existing technologies do not capture the full potential of the entire solar spectrum. This limitation primarily lies in these technologies' incomplete absorption of the sun’s ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation.Continue ReadingCategory:

Imagine trying to design machines that will last forever, regardless of use or destination. Instead of those machines requiring a steady stream of spare parts (essentially impossible for space probes or exoplanetary landers to haul or acquire), they’ll be able to heal their super-durable “flesh” more than a thousand times. Sound too good to be true?Continue ReadingCategory: Materials,

Ever since Benjamin Franklin’s lightning experiment in the 18th century, civilization has been intrigued by the idea of capturing lightning in a bottle. Over time, however, the idea evolved from literal to figurative. Today, we may be seeing a return to the literal. Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), may have figured out a way to bottle the sun, or at least its energy, using a Dewar pyrimidone solution.Continue ReadingCateg

This tiny house embraces the small living movement's humble roots by offering a towable home for two that doesn't break the bank. Featuring a compact single-floor interior, it's currently up for sale for just US$39,000.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags:

Almost a century and a half after construction began on La Sagrada Familia, the exterior structure of the tallest church in the world was finally completed last Friday in Barcelona, Spain.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture,

Despite its critics and moves toward electrification, the internal combustion engine is not yet dead. Though its design for passenger vehicles may have begun to reach its apex with Mazda’s Skyactiv designs.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Mazda,

Volkswagen didn't become a camper van icon all on its own. It took the good folks at Westfalia to make that happen. Will the next legendary Volkswagen camper van come from another company outside VW Group? It's too early to say, but Volkswagen is giving those companies a leg up with its latest Multivan offering. The new van comes with an available plug-in hybrid powertrain, a cockpit, a few RV basics and a whole lot of nothing else. It's an empty shell built to spark the creative minds of the existing conversion establishment and upstarts of the future.

Downsizing can be difficult enough for a couple, but doing it with kids in tow is another challenge entirely. The Zenith tiny house has been designed to tackle this issue head-on with an extra-wide layout and a surprisingly affordable price.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags:

The first thing you'll notice about the Artista is its attractive modern appearance, with its main entrance opening up to a storage-integrated staircase. However, there's more to this tiny house than just looks, and it includes a well-designed interior layout that maximizes its small footprint.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: