Volkswagen goes tiny but expandable with new Mini-Camper van

[Automotive]( [Volkswagen goes tiny but expandable with new Mini-Camper van]( [Volkswagen teases the expandable tent system of its new Caddy Mini-Camper]( A new VW Caddy calls for a new Caddy Beach camper van, and in this case, a new name: the Mini-Camper. One of the smallest, cutest camper vans out there, the Mini-Camper sleeps adventurous couples and turns into a larger "glamping lodge" on demand. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Geologie is men's skincare made simple]( Skincare is way too complicated these days. That’s why Geologie is reinventing men’s skincare with a personalized routine that's simple and just plain works. Take their 30-second quiz and start with a 30 Day Complete Trial set for only $37. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Non-magnetic material made magnetic using electricity for the first time]( [Researchers have induced magnetism in pyrite, a non-magnetic material, using electricity]( Researchers have for the first time managed to use electricity to switch on magnetism in a material that’s normally non-magnetic. This could be a step towards making electronic components out of common materials that might not otherwise be suitable. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Boom Supersonic teams with Rolls-Royce on world's fastest civil aircraft]( [The Overture is Boom's flagship model, and is hoped to become the world's fastest civilian aircraft]( Aviation startup Boom Supersonic is pressing ahead with the development of its flagship supersonic aircraft, the Overture. These efforts have today received a significant shot in the arm, with the company announcing a new partnership with Rolls-Royce. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Zaha Hadid Architects' island homes double down on flexibility]( [Roatán Próspera Residences will include sustainable design and technology, such as solar power]( Zaha Hadid Architects has only ever created one house ... until now. The firm has is planning an island community of sustainable timber houses that will offer would-be homeowners lots of choice over the size and style of their home. [Read more]( [Drones]( [New drone technology promises a 5-minute recharge]( [A FlashBattery-packin' drone lifts off from the StoreDot charging station]( Most multicopter drones can only fly for about 30 minutes, after which their battery has to be recharged for one to two hours. According to Israeli company StoreDot, though, its FlashBattery tech delivers a full charge in just five minutes. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Kandi's $20,000 electric car is the cheapest the US has seen]( [Kandi will open up pre-sales for the K27 (pictured) and K23 at an August 18 launch event]( High prices are undoubtedly a significant factor in the rate of electric car uptake, but a couple of new entrants to the US market could help shake up the status quo. [Read more]( [Space]( [How old is the universe? New studies disagree by a billion years]( [Multiple studies have come to different conclusions about the age of the universe]( The universe likes to play coy about its age, but we have a pretty good idea of the range. Now, a series of new studies has investigated the question using different methods, and have reached different answers, separated by more than a billion years. [Read more]( [Science]( [Simple sensor designed to continuously analyze pool water]( [The device could work on its own without human intervention, for up to three months]( It's important to maintain proper chlorine levels in a pool, as too much can cause skin and eye irritation, and too little won't kill bacteria. A new device could help, by cheaply and automatically checking a pool's pH and chlorine content. [Read more]( [Photography]( [The rule-bending winners of Red Bull Illume Special Image Quest 2020]( [Category Winner, Unseen - Image: Germain Favre Felix]( Spinning off from the Red Bull Illume Quest competition comes Red Bull Illume Special Image Quest 2020, which showcases adventure and action sports imagery, but with an Instagram focus. The winners of the inaugural contest have now been announced. [Read more]( [Space]( [Mars rover mission faces technical issues soon after launch]( [Artist's impression of the Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars]( NASA has announced that, soon after yesterday’s launch of the Mars Perseverance rover, that mission had experienced minor issues that hindered communication and caused the spacecraft couriering the rover to enter a "safe mode." [Read more]( [Military]( [US Army's conversational AI system to get soldiers and robots talking]( [A US Army cadet and ARL West intern assists with research on JUDI]( The US Army is developing a voice interface that allows two-way dialogue between soldiers and autonomous robotic systems. The Joint Understanding and Dialogue Interface (JUDI) is designed to reduce training costs and improve soldier/robot teamwork. [Read more]( [Military]( [More realistic bite sleeve improves training of US Army working dogs]( [The new bite sleeve more accurately simulates the texture of human skin]( The US Army has developed a more realistic bite sleeve for training military working dogs. Worn during biting exercises, the protective silicone and Kevlar sleeve looks and feels more like a human arm, but still shields the wearer from harm. [Read more]( [Science]( [Coastal flooding could put 20 percent of global GDP at peril]( [Scientists state that climate change-caused coastal flooding may have a marked effect on the global gross domestic product (GDP)]( A study claims that in the next 80 years, the global land area exposed to coastal flooding as a result of climate change is set to increase by roughly 50 percent. The rise could threaten tens of millions of people, and up to 20 percent of global GPD. [Read more]( [Robotics]( [Origami-inspired folding microbots can tackle new tasks when heated]( [An example of the new folding microbots developed at the University of Michigan]( Scientists working in the field of microbots have taken inspiration from origami to produce what they say are first-of-a-kind machines, which can fold into different shapes to take on different tasks through the application of heat. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [First autonomous free flight for Airbus Helicopters' VSR700 prototype]( [The VSR700 prototype made its first autonomous free flight in southern France]( Airbus Helicopters' VSR700 unmanned aerial system (UAS) prototype has flown autonomously for the first time. At a drone test center near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, the pilotless rotorcraft performed a 10-minute free flight. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Ground-up e-waste could be used to make steel stronger]( [According to the United Nations, about 20 to 50 million tonnes (22 to 55 US tons) of e-waste are disposed of worldwide every year]( Electronic waste can be difficult to repurpose, as it often consists of two or more mixed materials. Now, however, Australian scientists have developed a method of converting so-called e-waste into a protective coating for steel. [Read more]( [Photography]( [Majesty of nature on full display in the best landscape photos of 2020]( ['Lightning and wind'. Zeebrugge, Belgium]( Agora’s 2020 landscape photography contest delivers a spectacular assortment of images, from powerful displays of lightning, to several compelling shots of tiny human figures overwhelmed by the majesty of the natural environment. [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