Why can’t humans regenerate body parts? We’ve got the genes

[BIOLOGY] [Why can’t humans regenerate body parts? We’ve got the genes] Some of our closest invertebrate cousins, like this Acorn worm, have the ability to perfectly regenerate any part of their body that's cut off - including the head and nervous system. Humans have most of the same genes, so scientists are trying to work out whether human regeneration is possible too. [Read more] [HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS] [Sizing up South America's oldest living tree] "El Gran Abuelo" is South America's oldest living tree, at 3,622 years. What does it feel like to stand before such a wise old being? We trekked and tripped our way through the Andean foothills on Chile's southern coast for our own little meeting with "El Gran Abuelo."​​ [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [No-reserve Duemila Route auction: Top 50 car sales] One of the biggest automotive auctions ever held took place in Milan over the weekend of November 25-27, when 3,000 bidders fought over 817 cars, bikes and boats and five auctioneers operating the auction in shifts totaling 30 hours. There were world records and incredible bargains.​ [Read more] [MOTORCYCLES] [Mike Corbin on Quicksilver, the motorcycle that held the electric land speed title for 38 years] Climbing a power pole with five sets of jumper leads, a young Mike Corbin tapped into mains power to charge up his electric bike for a Bonneville run. Powered by silver "borrowed" from a US Navy vault, Quicksilver went on to set a land speed record that stood for 38 long years. Here's his story. [Read more] [DIGITAL CAMERAS] [Orbi Prime records 4K 360-degree video with stylish shades] The Orbi Prime looks like a 360-degree camera you might forget you're even using. Packed inside a pair of sunglasses are four HD cameras that capture 90 minutes of 360 video, leaving the wearer’s hands free for biking, paddling, climbing or whatever else they’re shooting. [Read more] [SCIENCE] [World's most stable atomic clock proves two clocks are better than one] Scientists have set a new world record for atomic clock stability using a pair of ytterbium-based timepieces stable down to quintillionths of a second. The researchers believe that their new system may prove invaluable in determining the precision of fundamental universal constants. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Bentley blackens the Mulsanne Speed into a 530-hp luxury watch showcase] When two pillars of personalization develop a unique car, the results are sure to be brilliant. The Bamford x Bentley Mulliner is just such a collaboration, a dashing, blacked-out Mulsanne Speed for carrying very precious cargo: Rolexes and Patek Philippes wearing Bamford's signature style. [Read more] [MEDICAL] [Diabetes treatment may be hiding in oddball Australian critters] In the fight against disease, new weapons can turn up in some unexpected places. In this case, researchers have found a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes in the gut and venom of the world's only egg-laying mammals, the platypus and echidna. [Read more] [ENVIRONMENT] [Old tires find new life as cleaner alternative to diesel] In what might be a case of two wrongs making a right, an Australian startup has shown that it is possible to get a cleaner blend of fuel by combining oil derived from old tires with diesel. ​ [Read more] [BICYCLES] [E-bike with removable battery powers your ride and your life] Slovenian shop Noordung does a few interesting things with its new e-bike, including designing a curvy take on the traditional diamond frame and integrating a boombox into its removable battery pack. This bike provides pedelec motor power, blasts music and charges your gadgets. [Read more] [DRONES] [Tethered drone reins in the complexity] ​While it's impressive that today's consumer drones can do things like track objects, the fact is that most users will probably never utilize those functions. With that in mind, Fotokite has announced availability of its simple quadcopter-on-a-leash, the folding Phi. [Read more] [SPACE] [New Mars orbiter provides tantalizing close-up of the Red Planet] ESA has shared its new orbiter's first images of the Martian surface, providing a tantalizing preview of more data yet to come. ​ [Read more] [ENVIRONMENT] [When it comes to earthquake risk, helium in the groundwater shouldn't be taken lightly] Scientists at the University of Tokyo believe they're on to a new prediction method for earthquakes – measuring the amount of a helium isotope in the groundwater. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Snoozy styling hides smarter new Ford Fiesta] The current Ford Fiesta has been kicking around since 2008, making it a dinosaur. It handles well, but modern buyers want more than a ​keen chassis, they want easy connectivity and lots of interior space. Ford has aimed to tick those boxes with the new Fiesta. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [How self-parking car technology works: the first step to autonomous vehicles] Cars can now virtually park themselves. Having spent time in several of today’s semi-automated self-parking cars, it’s become clear that the idea is becoming mainstream, but the technology behind it is not commonly understood. Here’s a rundown on how it works. [Read more] [BICYCLES] [Retro bike speedometer doubles as ... a smartwatch?] ​​Judging by the recent success of Omata's One, a lot of cyclists like the idea of a speedometer that combines an analog display with electronic guts. The Moskito, however, not only serves as an analog/digital bicycle speedometer, but it can also be taken off the bike and worn as a smartwatch.​ [Read more] [SCIENCE] [Hunting god in the brain: Spiritual experiences light up neural reward circuits] Scientists have observed the brain's reward circuits in Mormons as they engaged in spiritual activities, finding that they activated regions in a very similar fashion to other stimuli like gambling, drugs, sex and love. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [McLaren's Track Pack opens the door for more zippy 570S trackday fun] The McLaren 570S has carved a niche with a blend of comfort and performance, but some people aren't searching for balance. To appease demanding customers who want a more focused package but can't stretch to a 675LT, the boffins at McLaren now offer an uncompromising Track Pack for the 570S. ​​​ [Read more] [AIRCRAFT] [Solar-powered two-seater plane will soar to the edge of space] Solar planes have already traversed the Alps and flown around the world, but one team has its sights set a little higher: the edge of space. SolarStratos is planning to fly a solar-powered plane to an altitude of over 80,000 ft (24,000 m). [Read more] [BIOLOGY] [When ants kiss, it's all about the chemistry] Scientists have discovered that there is more than feeding at play when ants lock lips, with the insects also using it as an opportunity to pass on important chemical messages that shape the behavior of the colony's next generation. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [When a paraglider meets Volvo's slick-shifting gearbox, the results are pretty impressive] ​Having pulled 750 tonnes with its new i-Shift gearbox, Volvo has upped the stakes to show off just what dual-clutch tech can offer the heavy vehicle world. The latest stunt to emerge involves a paraglider, a mountain pass and a truck, and aims to demonstrate how smooth the gearbox really is. [Read more] [HOME ENTERTAINMENT] [Metaxas asks listeners to reflect on the meaning of life with skull-shaped headphone amp] The Memento mori preamp/headphone amp takes the outer form of a human skull – reflecting the meaning of the Latin phrase used for its name – and has been designed for modern audiophiles who care more about pure sound than having a vast array of functions at their fingertips. [Read more] [ENERGY] [2.5 million modules make up world's largest solar power plant] The world’s largest solar power plant is online in southern India. With a capacity of 648 megawatts (MW), the facility is made up of 2.5 million solar photovoltaic modules spread over 10 sq km (3.9 sq mi), and marks a step forward for the Indian government’s ambitious renewable energy goals. [Read more] [AUTOMOTIVE] [Carmakers plan European EV fast-charging network] A consortium of major carmakers is planning a high-powered fast-charging network for electric vehicles in Europe. BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen Group, Audi and Porsche are targeting an initial 400 sites with chargers of up to 350 kW. [Read more] [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS] [This Portable Power Strip Charges Your Macbook and 3 More Devices — 28% off] At the office, in your room, in the living room, in a hotel room - there are many, many power-packed places in your life that could use a good power strip. This travel-friendly strip is the solution. Equipped with 3 high-powered outlets and 4 USB charging ports, this durable, surge protecting power strip will fit perfectly into any space in your life. [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 © 2016