Weekend Edition: The key players in the emerging eVTOL air taxi market

Electric VTOL air taxis promise to unlock the skies as traffic-free, high-speed, 3D commuting routes. Much quieter and cheaper than helicopter travel, they'll change the way cities and lifestyles are designed and run on zero-local-emission electric power, with many models suggesting they'll cost around the same per mile as a ride share. This weekend we take a look at the major players in this emerging field, along with our regular recap of the biggest news in technology and innovation. [Aircraft]( [State of the game: The key players in the emerging eVTOL air taxi market]( [Voloctoper’s electric aircraft is built to take two passengers on short automated flights within urban centers]( Electric VTOL air taxis are one of the great emerging technologies of our time, and there are a ton of companies hoping to be early to market with a fast, safe, comfortable eVTOL aircraft for 3D commuting. Here's a roundup of the key players. [Read more]( [Energy]( [California trash-to-hydrogen plant promises dirt-cheap, super-green H2]( [The heart of a new "greener than green" hydrogen production facility design planned for Lancaster, California]( Greener than the best renewable hydrogen production processes, and as cheap as the dirtiest coal-generated H2 out of India – using garbage for fuel that would otherwise sit in landfill. Extraordinary claims for a new H2 plant planned for California. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [COVID-19 case studies: Anatomy of three "super-spreader" clusters]( [Recent CDC investigations into three super-spreader COVID-19 clusters may offer insights into what kinds of spaces or services can and can't be safely reopened]( A choir rehearsal, a series of family gatherings, and a multi-day church event. Three CDC reports offer detailed insights into super-spreader COVID-19 clusters. Can these reports point us towards safer ways to reopen our communities? [Read more]( [Medical]( [Study shows how a ketogenic diet positively alters the gut microbiome]( [Research has found microbiome alterations can be directly correlated with changes to ketone body levels]( A comprehensive new study, led by scientists from UC San Francisco, is offering robust new insights into the way a ketogenic diet can influence the gut microbiome, and subsequently result in broader health benefits. [Read more]( [Outdoors]( [Hard-sided carbon fiber roof-top camper has solar power and heat]( [Redtail positions the 90 tent for midsize SUVs and larger vehicles, the 110 for trucks and vans]( The RTT (roof-top tent) has made a name for itself. Will the RTC (roof-top camper) follow? Redtail Overland differentiates RTC from RTT by sandwiching three hard sides between a carbon fiber floor and roof and packing in solar power and diesel heat. [Read more]( [Music]( [Roadie 3 aims to autotune your guitar in double-quick time]( [The Roadie 3 is faster, more accurate and even more immune to external interference]( Band Industries first came to our attention in 2013 when the first Roadie automatic tuner launched on Kickstarter. Now the company has returned to the crowdfunding platform with its latest iteration, the Roadie 3. [Read more]( [Medical]( [DNA-repairing enzyme reverses age-related cognitive decline]( [Researchers have shown that an enzyme called HDAC1 helps repair DNA damage and fight off age-related cognitive decline]( We lose the ability to repair DNA damage as we age. But now a new study from MIT has found that reactivating a certain enzyme improves repair of DNA damage in neurons, which helps Alzheimer’s patients and others with cognitive decline. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Single off-switch found to dampen multiple pain centers in the brain]( [In experiments using mouse models, scientists have found neuron cells in the central amygdala of are linked to more than a dozen pain response regions in the brain]( What drives pain and how it might be prevented in humans are complex questions demanding complex answers, but scientists at Duke University have come across a rather simple one, comparatively speaking. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Nissan reveals production version of its million-dollar GT-R 50]( [Nissan has been putting the production version of the Nissan GT-R 50 through its paces at the Tazio Nuvolari circuit in Italy]( Having made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in 2018, the very first production version of the Nissan GT-R 50 has arrived, with only 50 of the supercars to be hand-built and a million-dollar price tag to go with them. [Read more]( [Space]( [Meet NASA's Roman Space Telescope, named after the "Mother of Hubble"]( [An artist's impression of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope]( NASA has officially named its next planet hunter. Previously known as the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, who has often been referred to as the Mother of Hubble. [Read more]( [Robotics]( [Remotely operated Spot robot herds sheep in New Zealand]( [Testing the new cloud-based software, Spot was monitored herding sheep in New Zealand by a team based in the United States]( Boston Dynamics’ dog-like Spot robot can now be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world thanks to a partnership with Rocos. To demonstrate its new capabilities the US team remotely monitored the robot working on an isolated farm in New Zealand. [Read more]( [Materials]( [New recyclable rubber material repairs itself on demand]( [A new rubber material can be healed by applying an amine catalyst]( Imagine getting a flat tire, and just smearing on a chemical that makes the rubber meld seamlessly back together. That’s the kind of breakthrough researchers are now reporting, with a new material made of waste products and easily recyclable itself. [Read more]( [Outdoors]( [Adjustable trekking pole packs six survival tools inside]( [Early pledges for the Trekking Pole start at CA$85 (US$60) over at Toporo’s Kickstarter campaign]( Looking to equip outdoor adventurers with a few survival-oriented tricks up their sleeves, Canadian startup Toporo has taken to Kickstarter with a trekking pole that does just that, with six tools tucked away inside. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 is muscular and almost American]( [The Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 has an odd, not-quite-American feel about its almost outrageous musculature and power, but that could be appealing too]( The Mercedes-Benz GLC has several qualities that make it appealing – sometimes in a contradictory way. It’s a large compact luxury SUV that can tow a trailer and whose AMG 63 model comes with a supercharged V8. All things that greatly appeal to American buyers. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Stem cell topical solution for baldness offers positive trial results]( [A clinical trial suggests a topical solution is effective at regrowing hair]( Researchers have shown a stem-cell-based topical solution can regrow hair in both male and female subjects with common pattern baldness. The small trial found the treatment both safe and effective, with larger trials hoped to validate the results. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Europe's largest green facade hosts 30,000 hedges]( [Kö-Bogen II is located in Düsseldorf includes over 30,000 hedges on its exterior]( Ingenhoven Architects has turned an area of inner-city Düsseldorf from gray to green with its recently-completed Kö-Bogen II. The mixed-use project hosts an incredible 5 miles of hedges on its exterior, making it Europe's largest green facade. [Read more]( [Physics]( [15 trillion quantum entangled atoms make a record-breaking hot mess]( [An artist's impression of a cloud of hot atoms with quantum entanglement links (yellow/blue lines) connecting them]( In quantum entanglement, particle links are thought to be fragile. But now, physicists have managed to produce hot clouds of trillions of entangled atoms, breaking quantity records and showing that entanglement isn’t as fragile as previously thought. [Read more]( [Science]( [Largest ever DMT survey travels to the fringes of psychedelic science]( [The study surveyed 2,500 DMT-induced entity experiences to discover what common features linked these bizarre and disparate reports]( A new study investigates the strange phenomenon of DMT-induced encounters with bizarre entities. The massive survey finds not only do most people who consume this psychedelic encounter unusual beings, but many atheists leave the experience with new beliefs. [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 © 2019