The best smartphones of 2016

[MOBILE TECHNOLOGY] [The best smartphones of 2016] Smartphones aren’t cheap, but if you’re looking for a holiday gift that toes the line between exciting and practical, they could be the answer. Read on for New Atlas’ take on the best smartphones of 2016. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Behind the wheel of the no-frills eRod electric sports car] Based in Zurich, Kyburz started making three-wheeled electric scooters and small trolleys, but decided that wasn't exciting enough, and added the eRod to the mix. New Atlas jumped on a plane to Switzerland, where we hopped behind the wheel for some quality time. [Read more] [ENVIRONMENT] [Discovery of biggest exposed fault on Earth solves mystery of how abyss formed] How the Weber Deep in Indonesia got to be a near bottomless pit is one of nature's mysteries. Thanks to a chance discovery of the world's biggest exposed fault plane, we finally know the answer. [Read more] [SPACE] [Changes in cerebrospinal fluid volume the culprit behind astronauts' blurry vision] Astronauts have been repeatedly complaining of blurred vision and a team of reseaarchers have completed a study that indicates the culprit might be a change in volume in the astronaut's cerebrospinal fluid. [Read more] [PETS] [Best gifts for pets and pet lovers 2016] Dogs may be man's best friend, but any type of pet quickly becomes part of the family. And why should any family member miss out on the joy of getting gifts? We round up some of the best presents to pamper your pooch, and gift ideas for the cat ​crazy lady in your life. [Read more] [ROBOTICS] [Toddler robot provides insights into early childhood learning] ​Kids can pick up new words pretty quickly – just ask any parent who’s accidentally sworn in front of them. To better understand early learning, a new study tested the language skills of both children and robots, and found that kids use a robotic technique that may not be based on conscious thought. [Read more] [SCIENCE] [Carbon nanotubes make water freeze solid at boiling temperatures] Water normally freezes at 0° C (32° F) and boils at 100° C (212° F) at sea level. But MIT researchers have found that when contained inside carbon nanotubes, water can freeze solid at temperatures well above its usual boiling point, which could allow the creation of proton-conducting “ice wires”. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Zelectric jolts classic Porsche and Ghia into the electric age] San Diego's Zelectric has become well known for electrifying iconic Volkswagens in the form of its ZelectricBug and ZelectricBus. Now it's turned its attention to a high-performance electric Porsche 911 prototype and a beautiful cherry red electric Karmann Ghia prototype. [Read more] [ENVIRONMENT] [Upgraded trawler uses fish parts that others trash] ​When fish are processed in trawlers at sea, the animals' heads, guts and skeletons all just go overboard. It's a lot of waste, so Norway's SINTEF research group has developed a system that puts everything but the bones to use. [Read more] [BIOLOGY] [Clot-busting skin patch keeps the blood flowing with microneedles] According to the CDC, every year 60,000-100,000 people die in the US alone from blood clots formed from conditions known as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms. Now, a new patch developed by researchers in North Carolina could help battle these life-threateners in a novel way. [Read more] [SCIENCE] [Honey bee brood – a good source of food?] Bee brood has a "nutty flavor with a crunchy texture when eaten cooked or dried," plus it rivals beef in protein quantity and quality. With that in mind, a University of Copenhagen study suggests that the harvesting of bee brood be pursued on a larger scale in order to address world hunger. [Read more] [ARCHITECTURE] [Vincent Callebaut's twisting tree-covered tower takes shape in Taipei] We regularly cover Vincent Callebaut's sustainable architecture concepts, but have wondered how well his eye-catching renders would translate to real buildings. We need not wonder for long, as the Belgian architect's twisting, greenery-clad Agora Garden Tower is taking shape in Taiwan. [Read more] [BICYCLES] [Gadget turns bicycle transit upside-down] ​​If you own more than one type of bicycle, then you may have noticed that a single car-top-mounting system doesn't necessarily work for all of them. That's why Australian cyclists Stefan Wrobel and Sean Stoney invented the Upside Rack. ​ [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [BMW aims to save cash and the planet with Digital Charging Service] EVs might not emit anything locally, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. Power from the plug comes from a variety of sources, which means your power could be coming from coal-fired power stations, rather than clean wind farms. BMW is tackling the problem with a new Digital Charging Service. [Read more] [DRONES] [Long-range anti-drone gun can secure the entire neighborhood] If you don't have access to a flock of drone-hunting eagles, a new weapon could be the next-best option, with the ability to ground unmanned aircraft from up to 1.3 mi (2 km) away. ​ [Read more] [MUSIC] [Custom-fit earphones are just a couple of photos away] HelloEar has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of what it's calling "the world's first and only custom fit earphone." User-supplied ear photos are compared against a database of thousands of ears to produce a pair of earphones shaped to best fit a user's ear type. [Read more] [SCIENCE] [MIT's deep-learning software produces videos of the future] ​When you see a photo of a dog bounding across the lawn, it's pretty easy for us humans to imagine how the following moments played out. Well, scientists at MIT have just trained machines to do the same thing. [Read more] [DRONES] [Contest pics show drone photography at the top of its game] SkyPixel, a community for aerial photographers and videographers, aims to celebrate the best drone photography with its photo contest. From winding roads to barren winter forests, the 2016 SkyPixel Photo Contest showcases just what can be achieved with a drone and keen eye. [Read more] [ENERGY] [Diamonds turn nuclear waste into nuclear batteries] A University of Bristol team has found a way to convert nuclear waste into man-made diamond batteries that can generate a small electric current for longer than the entire history of human civilization. [Read more] [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS] [Get Quick Access to Your Media with pCloud Secure Online Storage — 87% off] You've got too many files in your life to effectively manage on just one device, which is where pCloud comes in handy. A supremely secure web storage space for all of your photos, videos, music, documents, and more, pCloud gives you an easily accessible place to store your valuables without taking up any precious data on your devices. With unrivaled transfer speed and security, pCloud makes saving and sharing memories extremely easy. [Read more] You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com] (or [gizmag.com] before August 2016). 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