NASA coaxes Voyager 1's thrusters back to life

[New Atlas logo]( Space [NASA coaxes Voyager 1's thrusters back to life]( [Model of Voyager 1]( After almost five decades sailing through space, NASA is trying to squeeze a few more years out of the venerable Voyager 1 deep space probe by swapping a wonky thruster system for a disused secondary one to keep its radio antenna pointing at the Earth. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [The upgrade your office deserves has just arrived]( Where you work can change how you work. Declutter your space with a CASA Hub Stand for laptops and tablets. This all-in-one device stand keeps your desk organized and your batteries full, and you can get one on sale for $139.99 (reg. $159). [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing ["Golden Lettuce" genetically engineered to pack 30 times more vitamins]( ["Golden Lettuce" is genetically engineered to have higher levels of the antioxidant beta-carotene, hence the yellow color]( Most of us don’t eat as much fruit and veggies as we know we should, but that goal might now be a bit more achievable. Scientists in Spain have engineered a new “Golden Lettuce” with 30 times more nutrients than the regular green stuff. [Read more]( Energy [New grid battery packs record energy density into a shipping container]( [Envision Energy's 8-MWh, 1,500-2,000-volt container battery]( China leads the world in solar power. And not just by a small margin either. It has over twice as much solar power as the next highest country, the USA. Where do you store any excess solar energy? Answer: in ridiculously big batteries. [Read more]( Automotive [Iconic Westfalia camper van streamlined into fast-pitching all-roader]( [Westfalia debuts the new James Cook 600D at the 2024 Caravan Salon]( Westfalia updated one of van life's icons at this year's Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. The simpler, more streamlined James Cook camper van does away with the added bulk of an expansion module, going for faster four-sleeper setup, on or off road. [Read more]( Bicycles [Bike headlight goes wide for better, less obnoxious visibility]( [The Light Rail is presently on Indiegogo]( Some bike headlights are designed to get you seen by motorists, while others are made to help you see the road. The Light Rail is claimed to excel at both, with a unique rectangular design that emphasizes light spread and movement over intensity. [Read more]( Automotive ['City Transformer' microcar widens wheelbase for high-speed stability]( [The tiny CT-2, wheels and fenders spread out to maximum width for 'Performance' mode]( The CT-2 is a shape-shifting four-wheeled urban getabout, a tandem two-seater that can park in motorcycle spaces and filter through traffic – but that spreads its wheels wider for stability at higher speeds. It's slated for production in 2026. [Read more]( Outdoors [Unbreakable cups contain four iconic Pacific Northwest mountains inside]( [The set of four comes with a shatter-proof lifetime guarantee]( You don't need to have caught sight of these four stunning mountains that line the Pacific Northwest to know what a unique cup set this is – but if you have, you'll appreciate what a well-crafted tribute they are to such a beautiful corner of the US. [Read more]( Automotive [Will the home-built Insanity jet-powered dragster hit 400 mph?]( [Insanity Jet Car]( We're starting off the week with a mechanical marvel: a homemade dragster with dual Rolls-Royce jet engines that's been 17 years in the making – and could potentially hit 400 mph. [Read more]( Space [Earth may have once had a ring like Saturn – and it caused chaos]( [An artist's impression of Earth with a ring – a phase suggested by new evidence]( Saturn’s rings are iconic, but new evidence presented by researchers from Monash University suggests Earth might once have sported one of its own. This ring would likely have caused climate chaos on the surface. [Read more]( Science [Butt-breathing mammals and dead fish swimming: The 2024 Ig Nobel Prize]( [Big ideas lead to … some genuinely absurd science research, celebrated by the Ig Nobel Prize]( From 350,757 coin flips to prove probability to the swimming skills of dead trout, the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize winners have been recognized for their absurd work scientific research. And they all walked away with a coveted $100-trillion Zimbabwean banknote. [Read more]( Research Watch [BLM protests rapidly reduced racial bias … briefly]( [Black Lives Matter protests during 2020 had a sharp, but short-lived, effect on American's racial bias]( The 2020 Black Lives Matter protests caused a rapid drop in Americans' racial bias, but by the end of the year, it had risen again, according to new research. The study highlights the need for using other measures to affect long-lasting change. [Read more]( Space [Watch: Polaris Dawn splashes down after historic spacewalk mission]( [Polaris Dawn splashing down]( After five days in orbit, the Polaris Dawn mission, which conducted the world's first commercial spacewalk, has returned safely to Earth. At 3:36 am EDT, the Dragon capsule Resilience splashed down off the coast of the Dry Tortugas, Florida. [Read more]( Biology [Self-aware fish sizes itself up in the mirror before a fight]( [The bluestreak cleaner wrasse passed the mirror test and from memory alone can reliably size itself up for battle when faced with fish encroaching into its territory]( Last year, it was discovered the bluestreak cleaner wrasse could pass the "mirror test", showing that it can recognize its own face in a mirror. Now researchers have found it can actually size itself up against a potential competitor before a fight. [Read more]( Automotive [World's first hydrogen race car passes FIA crash tests]( [The pioneer has a top speed of 200 kmph]( The Pioneer 25 marks a momentous step in the world of motorsports as it passed the mandatory FIA crash tests. Developed solely for Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport, the car has a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). [Read more]( Photography [Gallery: Cosmic wonders in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards]( [Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year Highly Commended: M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy © ZiYang Chang (China), aged 14. The Whirlpool Galaxy colliding with its neighbor NGC 5195]( Few photography subjects offer the breadth of beauty as astronomy, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards celebrate that. The winners for 2024 have now been crowned, including breathtaking cosmic shots. [Read more]( Automotive [A trip through Vigilante's Jeep restomod and restoration wonderland]( [Works in progress at the JeepHeritage and Vigilante shop]( Old SJ-series Jeep models are some of the most iconic American things there are. At Vigilante 4x4 in Texas, however, adding rubber-burning muscle and a whole lot of engineering makes them even more. [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