odd look at news on the web
One apartment per day: Student housing gets 3D printed crazy fast
13 December 2025 @ 12:03 am
Described as Europe's largest 3D-printed housing project, the Skovsporet development is currently underway in Denmark. A total of 36 student apartments were built with remarkable speed, as the cutting-edge technology allowed the equivalent of more than one apartment per day to be printed.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, TechnologyTags: Nissan's versatile new light camper rolls out as 4 vans in one
12 December 2025 @ 10:04 pm
A week ago, we looked at what could very well end up the most modular Toyota truck of all time. Now, we have a vehicle that could prove Nissan's most versatile van ever. Nissan may not be quite as well known for vans as Toyota is trucks, but it has long offered a few commercial van staples. And in markets not named "USA," it's also developed some very intriguing factory camper vans and concepts. The all-new Primastar Flexvan is both, and it's designed to get things – all the things – done.Life-saving skin patch could warn of oncoming anaphylaxis
12 December 2025 @ 8:44 pm
Anaphylaxis is not something to be taken lightly, as it's an allergic reaction that can prove fatal if not halted. That's where an experimental new skin patch comes in, as it could warn of the onset of anaphylaxis while there's still plenty of time to head it off.Continue ReadingCategory: Allergies, Illnesses and conditions, Body and MindTags: Review: 2026 Honda Passport is quietly confident
12 December 2025 @ 6:17 pm
Honda redesigned the Passport for the 2026 model year, but kept the fundamentals that made this two-row crossover a great choice. Some of the changes, including the TrailSport model addition, improve on the Passport’s capabilities without going overboard.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Honda, SUVThis tiny dev board is packed with features for ambitious makers
12 December 2025 @ 4:27 pm
If you enjoy building or tinkering with electronics, this hacking tool can help you get wildly creative with your projects, and make it a lot easier to test them. It's called the Kode Dot, and not only does it packs a ton of useful hardware into its compact body, it also has a couple of powerful features on the software side you'll likely lose many an evening to in your workspace.Continue ReFirst-ever footage: Orcas use dolphins as 'radar-equipped scouts'
12 December 2025 @ 2:57 pm
For the first time ever, a unique cooperative hunting arrangement between dolphins and orcas has been documented. Researchers believe killer whales find salmon by tailing dolphins, who in turn benefit from bite-sized fish pieces.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: orca, Whale, DolMiami tiny house sleeps up to six in a road-legal footprint
12 December 2025 @ 1:03 pm
The Miami is on the smaller side for a tiny house, at just 8 m (26 ft) long, but manages to fit more than you'd expect thanks to its Tardis-like space-saving design. It can sleep up to six people at a squeeze while staying road-legal and easy to tow.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: Building and Construction, Fiat's adorable 8-horsepower, 28-mph mini car is coming to the USA
12 December 2025 @ 10:57 am
Japanese kei cars have a cult following – and for good reason, too. They’re ultra-compact, lightweight vehicles that are essentially designed to meet Japan’s unique “kei” regulations, which cap engine displacement, exterior dimensions, and power output to make them efficient, affordable, and city-friendly.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Compact pump speedily inflates outdoor gear and doubles as a lantern
12 December 2025 @ 9:03 am
It doesn't make a lot of sense to carry extra gear for convenience on outdoor adventures if they take up a lot of luggage space. Flextail's new air pump for inflating mattresses, rafts, and pillows makes a strong case for a slot in your loadout with its diminutive build and ability to do double duty as a versatile lantern. It's also really powerful for its size, and seems like a fairly cheap carry to boot.Continue ReadingCategory: Volcanic eruptions sparked grim chain of events that brought the Black Death
12 December 2025 @ 6:32 am
Hidden inside the narrow growth rings of Pyrenees trees lies the strongest evidence yet for what set the Black Death in motion. For the first time, researchers have combined high-resolution climate reconstructions with medieval records to draw a direct connection between a sudden climatic shock and the arrival of the plague in Europe, where it killed tens of millions between 1347 and 1353.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology,