Weekend Edition: The auto industry continues to push the envelope

[New Atlas logo]( This week proved once more that the auto world has no interest in homogenous design. With Volkswagen's California T7 launching next month, and BYD's ambitious and virtually roofless Super 9 headed for production, it seems that despite the industry's many challenges and obstacles, there's still plenty of room for creativity. And we love to see it. Speaking of creativity and ambition, Oklahoma is set to soon be home to the tallest building in the US. You could say it's been quite the week for news of big ideas. We hope you enjoy reading about these lofty designs as much as we've enjoyed writing about them. Have a great weekend! Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas Automotive [BYD's roofless, no-windscreen, scissor-door supercar: Headed for production]( [The Fang Cheng Bao Super 9 is believed to be destined for production as the Bao 9]( Chinese electric auto-giant BYD has released a bold supercar concept through its premium Fang Cheng Bao brand. The Super 9 rocks no roof, the barest hint of windscreen, and lascivious scissor doors – and it's apparently headed for production. [Read more]( Automotive [New Volkswagen California camper will put an end to a VW van life era]( [The 2023 California Concept provides a preview of what the upcoming Multivan-based California camper van will look like]( The innovative, new VW California T7 will debut in a few weeks, and that means the California 6.1 is headed for retirement after 5 years. Before the Multivan-based California officially takes over, a "Last Edition" will celebrate the 6.1 exit. [Read more]( Architecture [Affordable starter home is 3D-printed in just 18 hours]( [The 3D-printed house is located in the Porto area of the Iberian Peninsula and measures 80 sq m (roughly 860 sq ft)]( One of the big possibilities of 3D-printed architecture is that it could revolutionize affordable housing. Portugal's Havelar shows this may soon be within reach with its inaugural 3D-printed home, which took just 18 hours to print. [Read more]( Physics [Think you understand evaporation? Think again, says MIT]( [The team used a lab device that beamed laser light at water to observe the evaporative effects of light]( We all know that water evaporates when the temperature climbs, but researchers have just shown that there's another factor at play. The breakthrough could solve long-standing atmospheric mysteries and lead to future technological advances. [Read more]( Medical [Anti-aging biopharma company raises $40 million to begin human tests]( [With financial backing secured, Rubedo Life Sciences can begin human trials of their drug]( California-based biopharmaceutical company Rubedo Life Sciences has announced that thanks to US$40 million in financial backing, it can commence human trials of its drug RLS-1469, designed to target the senescent cells that cause age-related disease. [Read more]( Environment [Superfood protein pulled out of thin air massively scales up production]( [Solar Foods has demonstrated how versatile its high-protein Solein powder is]( It's super-sustainable, easily made and nutrient-dense. And it puts all other food production to shame. Now, the first air-protein factory is open. It's the food of the future, and soon a $100 million industry – but will you be putting it on your plate? [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Hisense inches close to the wall to serve up big-screen cinema visuals]( [The PX3-Pro Laser Cinema ultra-short-throw projector can snuggle up close to the wall while throwing up 150-inch 4K Dolby Vision visuals]( Hisense USA says it's looking to redefine the high-end entertainment experience with the launch of the PX3-Pro, a daytime usable, triple laser ultra-short-throw projector that can throw Dolby Vision movies at up to 150 inches. [Read more]( Around The Home [Air-purifying pothos plants work almost 30X better with microbial boost]( [The Neo PX system – pothos plant included – will set you back US$119]( Pothos plants are already known for being particularly good at purifying indoor air, so imagine if it were possible to make them 30 times better at doing so. Neoplants claims its Neo PX system does just that, using special soil-dwelling bacteria. [Read more]( Automotive [First-ever autonomous motor race streams live this weekend]( [The inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) kicks off on Saturday 27 April 2024 as the star of Abu Dhabi Mobility Week, running from April 24 to May 1]( The first autonomous car race will be held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Saturday 27 April 2024. It could be the birth a new TV sport with a fan-base of technophiles drawn by the progress of autonomous capability towards that of a human. [Read more]( Space [World's most advanced solar sail rockets into space]( [The Electron rocket lifting off]( The world's most advanced solar sail spacecraft began its epic odyssey as it lifted off atop a Rocket Lab Electron launcher from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. It was one of two payloads on the Beginning Of The Swarm mission. [Read more]( Medical [How aspirin stops the growth and spread of colorectal cancer]( [Scientists believe aspirin helps activate more immune cells to effectively fight cancer growth]( Aspirin, taken by around 29 million Americans daily, has increasingly been linked to inhibiting the growth of certain cancers – but we didn't quite know how. Now, scientists have uncovered how it helps the immune system see and kill cancer cells. [Read more]( Medical [Thistle extract accelerates nerve regeneration by up to 29%]( [The unassuming blessed thistle contains a compound that regenerates damaged nerves]( Nature has again proven effective in treating health conditions, this time nerve injury. According to a new study, a compound found in the blessed thistle plant accelerates the regeneration of damaged nerves, restoring motor function and touch sensation. [Read more]( Military [Video: World's first dogfight between AI and human pilot]( [The test was the first dogfight between an AI-controlled fighter and a human piloted aircraft]( An F-16 fighter plane running on artificial intelligence has engaged in the first-ever aerial dogfight exercise with a human-piloted counterpart. This is the first footage of the mock battle, which comes out of DARPA's Air Combat Evolution program. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Video: Hardy tiny house gets a size boost for apartment-like living]( [The 2024 Noyer XL has a length of 38.5 ft (11.7 m) and is based on a triple-axle trailer]( Minimaliste previously impressed us with its Noyer and Noyer XL, which offer luxurious small living in all weather. The firm has now iterated on the model again with the even larger and apartment-like 2024 Noyer XL tiny house. [Read more]( Technology [The bad and the ugly: AI is harmful, unreliable and running out of data]( [The 2024 AI Index report highlights what needs to change about AI]( AI has been surpassing human performance benchmarks for years. But its rapid rise has highlighted its areas of weakness: Trustworthiness, ethics, and producing unbiased and non-discriminatory content. As a result, the world has become more nervous. [Read more]( Biology [World's largest marine reptile gives blue whale a run for its money]( [An artist's impression of Ichthyotitan severnensis washed up on a beach, while some curious dinosaurs investigate]( A newly described species of marine reptile could be the largest to ever swim the world’s oceans. The “giant fish lizard” lived more than 200 million years ago, and may give the blue whale a run for its money, size-wise. [Read more]( Motorcycles [Video: Self-balancing omnidirectional motorcycle spins, slides and glides]( [James Bruton's omnidirectional, self-balancing "Screw Bike"]( One of the most bizarre vehicles we've ever seen in motion. This jaw-dropping electric contraption rolls on four custom-made omnidirectional wheels, mounted sideways so it can self-balance like a Segway and move in any direction. Completely bonkers. [Read more]( Good Thinking [$300,000 robotic micro-factories pump out custom-designed homes]( [AUAR's end-to-end tech stack basically means you can have a fully-functional microfactory. The first 40 microfactory roll-out is just beginning but when it's all rolling, the intention is to be able to set up such a microfactory and have it functioning inside a week! AUAR's growth rate is planned at about 50% YoY until 2027.]( Construction is the world’s largest industry, contributing 13% of global GDP. It is also the most inefficient, least digitised and most polluting industry. Now AUAR has begun rolling out an ingenious end-to-end solution based on its micro-factory. [Read more]( Drones [Solar-cell-packin' drone uses sunlight for on-the-spot recharging]( [Outdoor tests have shown that the presence of the solar array doesn't adversely affect the drone's flight characteristics]( Multirotor drones may one day be able recharge their batteries while out and about, instead of having to return to a charging station. They could do so via onboard ultra-thin solar cells, which have already been tested on a small quadcopter. [Read more]( Military [Ghost Shark: The huge stealth advantage of autonomous submarines]( [Artist's concept of Ghost Shark]( Australia's robotic submarine program takes delivery of its first Ghost Shark Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) prototype – a machine that ditches the pressure hull and life support to gain an edge in size and stealth. [Read more]( Technology [AI now surpasses humans in almost all performance benchmarks]( [A comprehensive report has detailed the global impact of AI]( Stand back and take a look at the last two years of AI progress as a whole... A new report shows how AI is catching up with humans so quickly, in so many areas, that frankly, we're going to need new tests. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2022