odd look at news on the web
Wood polymer gives thermal paper an eco-friendly makeover
1 February 2026 @ 3:03 am
Scientists have already learned how to make helmets, batteries, and even sports cars from wood, so applying it to something like thermal paper might not sound that exciting. Yet it could actually affect our lives far more than we realize.Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: EPFL, Paper, WoodSingle-story tiny house feels much larger than it should
31 January 2026 @ 9:03 pm
Going tiny always means making some sacrifices, but the Natural Luxe requires fewer than you might expect. The single-story home has a remarkably open and spacious layout, with a large kitchen and living area, and even a dedicated home office.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: Building and Construction, Curiously slanted pan puts basic geometry to work in more even cooking
31 January 2026 @ 5:30 pm
Whether you're downsizing and decluttering or are looking to save money with more home cooking, the iLean-Pan is designed to reduce cooking time by replacing several kitchen pans with a more versatile design. Literally elevating cooking to a higher level, it's engineered with an angled bottom that can be heated up to three temperatures in different areas to sauté multiple food ingredients.Continue ReadingCategory: Around The Home, LifestyleNew ultrasound pad aims to make prenatal visits less unpleasant
31 January 2026 @ 4:03 pm
If you've ever had a sonogram you know that, even though the test isn't too hard to endure, the cold glob of gel that goes on your skin before you get "wanded" is pretty unpleasant. Japanese researchers have now come up with an alternative.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical Devices, Medical Innovations, Body and MindTags: UltrasounHybrid jet engines work to excel where pure-electric jets fail
31 January 2026 @ 2:03 pm
A hybrid-electric jet engine may seem as absurd as a horse-drawn Zeppelin, but GE Aerospace is ground testing a new megawatt-class hybrid turbofan engine and its full powertrain that is powerful enough to run a medium-haul narrow-body airliner.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: GE Aerospace, Volvo's premium electric SUV rolls more than 500 miles between top-ups
31 January 2026 @ 11:27 am
It’s hyperbole season in the automotive world. No sooner had New Atlas reported on Peugeot’s revelation of "the future of motoring" (which turned out to be a fancy concept car with an oblong steering wheel) than Volvo revealed "the true meaning of freedom to move."Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Volvo, SUV, Electric VehiclesLook, no hands: Flying umbrella follows user through the rain
31 January 2026 @ 9:40 am
Walking in the rain with an umbrella is never a hands-free experience. You’re gripping an umbrella with one hand, and oftentimes, you may be juggling a bag or a phone in the other. And a strong gust of wind can often throw a wrench into the whole thing. So the idea of an umbrella that simply hovers above you feels instantly appealing: no handling required.Continue ReadingCategory: Drones, Consumer Tech, Sonos gets serious about pro audio with an 8-channel amp for large homes
31 January 2026 @ 3:03 am
Eight years after the arrival of the Sonos Amp, which supported four speakers for high-end streaming audio around your house, the brand's leveled things up with new hardware for bigger homes.Continue ReadingCategory: Home Entertainment, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: CERN supercollider gets sustainable side hustle heating local homes
31 January 2026 @ 12:03 am
Okay, CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) might have uncovered the Higgs boson and helped redefine our concept of physical reality, but what has it done for us lately? How about a side hustle heating several thousand homes in the neighborhood?Continue ReadingCategory: Environment, ScienceTags: CERN, Particle accelerator, Smart soldering iron packs a camera to show you what you're doing
30 January 2026 @ 8:50 pm
Soldering frequently involves hunching in and squinting at the fiddly task at hand, or performing that task under an unmoving magnifying glass. The D01 Visual Soldering Iron offers a more versatile alternative, as it's equipped with a smartphone-connected camera.Continue ReadingCategory: Electronics, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Tool