odd look at news on the web
Speak! Robot guide dogs converse with their owners
10 April 2026 @ 11:33 am
Since the early 1900s, dogs have helped people who are blind or have low vision to navigate their world. Now, in a very 21st century twist, seeing-eye dogs have gone robotic and added a skill that not even the most well-trained canine could pull off: conversation.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, EngineeringTags: Unitree, DJI's crazy-powerful motor rewrites the ebike rulebook all over again
10 April 2026 @ 9:46 am
The specs race in high-end electric mountain bike motors has long had the feel of the 1990s processor wars – bigger numbers every year, but precious little difference when you're actually grinding through the mud. Avinox might have finally changed that. DJI's dedicated ebike drive system brand changed that a couple of years back and left the competition in the dust. Now Avinox is set to do it all again with what it claims is the most powerful and lightest production eMTB motor on the market in a package that is, essentially, drone engineering on two wheels.Retro-style cassette player offers much more than a walk down memory lane
10 April 2026 @ 6:18 am
Not everything old is worth a modern makeover, but this is something audio-lifestyle brand Gadhouse seems to understand. Following on from some stunning retro-modern turntables, it's now reviving 1980s portable audio paired with modern convenience.Continue ReadingCategory: Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Making clean fuel (and profits) from plastic waste and battery acid
10 April 2026 @ 4:04 am
In a "triple win" for green research, scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new sunlight-activated reactor that uses one waste stream to tackle another – all while producing clean hydrogen, and promising to be profitable at commercial scale.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: Earliest known vomit: This ancient predator clearly wasn't picky
10 April 2026 @ 12:11 am
Sometimes, the most important paleontological discoveries may come from the most disgusting materials.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Paleontology, Predator, Radically modular inflatable tent grows wheels and redefines 'towing'
9 April 2026 @ 11:03 pm
Over the years, we've seen a number of RV innovators develop lightweight, small-packing camping trailers with inflatable living areas, from the roomy Air Opus to the pinchably adorable Booba trailer. The new ToW trailer starts from the other direction, coming from a tent manufacturer instead of an RV brand. Dutch inflatable pioneer Karsten ports one of its popular air-beamed domes over to a trailer, creating a Tent on Wheels (ToW) that rides lightly, offers loads of payload, and quickly sets up into a ground tent with elevated bed. Enjoy the basic dome or Ultrasonic wristband used to track hand movements like never before
9 April 2026 @ 6:48 pm
Review: 2-in-1 RC smart-plane will put your engineering skills to the test
9 April 2026 @ 5:30 pm
In its most ambitious set, PowerUp Toys' Starflux Balsa Wood RC Airplane Kit delivers a hands-on experience where each step influences success in the air. And let's just say, the experience was quite a humbling one for a flight enthusiast like myself.Continue ReadingCategory: Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: High-speed hydrofoil e-ferry is quieter than a library
9 April 2026 @ 4:03 pm
Swedish electric boat company Candela has just unveiled the P-12 Business, a 16-passenger hydrofoil ferry it's calling the quietest high-speed vessel on the water.Continue ReadingCategory: Marine, TransportTags: Candela, Dyson stuck a near-silent 65,000-RPM motor in its new handheld fan
9 April 2026 @ 2:07 pm
If your body typically runs hot, or you find yourself out in the sun often, Dyson's got something to show you. Its new handheld fan packs possibly the most powerful motor you can safely fit into a gadget of this size, and doesn't make a big ol' racket.Continue ReadingCategory: Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: