New nuclear engine concept could help realize 3-month trips to Mars

[Space]( [New nuclear engine concept could help realize 3-month trips to Mars]( [The concept engine is twice as efficient as chemical rockets]( Seattle-based USNC-Tech has developed a concept for a safer and more reliable Nuclear Thermal Propulsion system that could help realize the goal reducing Earth-Mars travel time to just three months. [Read more]( [Sponsored Content]( [AtlasBIOvib targets tension in your upper neck muscles]( [Powerful vibrations relax the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments in the upper neck, as well as other acupressure points around the body]( The AltasBIOvib is a hand-held, battery-powered neck massager specifically targeted at an often-neglected area: the topmost vertebra in the spine, known as the C1 cervical vertebra, or the Atlas, considering the precious weight it holds up. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Kia Ray pop-top micro-campervan might be the cutest RV in the world]( [The Daon Ravy is an extremely compact pop-top camper]( The Kia Soul would make a cute pop-up camper in itself, but it actually has a smaller, cuter Korean-market brother, the Kia Ray. Daon Ray turns that tiny Kia into a full camper van with two beds, a kitchen, storage, heating and electricity. [Read more]( [Science]( [New evidence links gut bacteria alterations to autism]( [New research suggests impaired microbial detoxification pathways could play a role in the development of autism in children]( A new study is shedding light on the link between autism and gut microbiome impairments. The research reveals a potential mechanism by which altered gut bacteria populations can lead to abnormal microbial detoxification and mitochondrial dysfunction. [Read more]( [Military]( [General Atomics and Boeing team up on high-energy laser weapon]( [The laser weapon system is designed to be mounted on a variety of platforms]( General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing have entered into a partnership to develop a scalable 100 kW to 250 kW-class High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system for air and missile defenses. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [CDC reports 300,000 excess deaths in US so far this year]( [Only two-thirds of the excess death rate this year is directly attributed to COVID-19, suggesting the true mortality rate of the pandemic is higher than the direct count]( A new CDC report says nearly 300,000 more deaths than expected have occurred in the US so far in 2020. Only two-thirds of these “excess deaths” are attributed to COVID-19, suggesting the toll of the pandemic is higher than the confirmed mortality numbers. [Read more]( [Energy]( [Entire state of South Australia powered solely by solar in a world first]( [For one hour in October, the entire state of South Australia drew its energy purely from solar]( The state of South Australia met significant but short-lived milestone for renewable energy on Sunday October 11, when solar power provided all of its energy needs between midday and 1 pm – a first for a jurisdiction of its size. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Ocean Cleanup debuts its first sunglasses made from plastic waste]( [The Ocean Cleanup sunglasses are priced at US$199 apiece]( As part of its mission to tackle plastic pollution in the marine environment, The Ocean Cleanup project plans to sell goods made from the waste it recovers to fund its ongoing operations, and has just unveiled its very first product. [Read more]( [Space]( [OSIRIS-REx is leaking asteroid samples due to jammed lid]( [Images confirmed that the sampler head had collected an abundance of material and was leaking]( Images returned by NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid explorer have confirmed that the spacecraft's sample collector head is slowly leaking some of the material it gathered from the surface of the asteroid Bennu, but it's not all bad news. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Microscopic sponge turns dirty cooking oil into biodiesel on the cheap]( [A closeup view of the micron-sized sponge]( Scientists at Australia’s RMIT have developed a tiny sponge with big potential, and say the micron-sized material can be used to convert discarded cooking oil into biodiesel in a very cost-effective manner. And this catalyst is no one-trick pony. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Take care of mosquitoes once and for all with this under $60 device]( The Wizap uses CO₂ emanation and UV lamps to mimic human attraction. Mosquitos, midges, wasps and flies don’t stand a chance against the 1800 RPM fan vortex. Get it for 40% off today. [Read more]( [First handheld calculator headlines auction of mathematical treasures]( [The handheld calculator was an unqualified success of "killer app" magnitude. Canon bought the rights and launched its Pocketronic calculator on 14 April, 1971. The 4-function calculator weighed 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg) and initially cost $250. Within months, the price was reduced to $150 and the sales continued to grow as manufacturing costs and prices came down. More than five million pocket calculators were sold in the United States in 1972.]( Bonhams’ annual History of Science & Technology auction never fails to delight, and the next sale has one of the most exciting technology offerings we’ve ever seen – the original prototype of the Texas Instruments CalTech Prototype Handheld Calculator. [Read more]( [Wearables]( [LG adds noise cancellation to Tone Free self-cleaning wireless earphones]( [The Tone Free true wireless earphones feature active noise cancellation and Meridian-tuned audio]( Back in July, LG launched some passive isolation true wireless earphones in the US that came with a bacteria-killing charging case. Now the company has announced a new member of the Tone Free family that rocks active noise cancellation. [Read more]( [Drones]( [Ware tech uses autonomous drones to track warehouse inventory]( [The Ware system incorporates Skydio 2 quadcopters]( In recent years, both MIT and Fraunhofer have announced the development of systems that use flying drones to keep track of inventory in warehouses. The Ware system offers a unique take on that same idea, and is already in use at multiple locations. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Gene therapy restores partial vision to totally blind mice]( [Researchers have restored a level of vision to blind mice using gene therapy]( In some forms of blindness, certain parts of the eye still work but damage to light-sensitive cells disrupts vision. Now, researchers have used gene therapy to bypass damaged cells and restore partial vision to mice that were completely blind. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Face-sticker sensor could allow ALS patients to communicate]( [The device (pictured here applied to a beaker) should cost no more than about $10]( Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes people to lose control of their muscles – unfortunately, this often eventually causes them to lose their ability to speak. A new skin-worn device, however, could still let them communicate with others. [Read more]( [Good Thinking]( [Lego Braille and social housing among 2020 design awards hopefuls]( [Goldsmith Street, by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley, is one of the 74 projects featured in the 2020 Beazley Designs of the Year shortlist]( A total of 74 projects have been selected for the 2020 Beazley Designs of the Year shortlist. The variety is genuinely impressive, encompassing everything from Braille Lego to an uncensored library in a Minecraft server and a social housing project. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Experimental app designed to speed up the diagnosis of strokes]( [A patient with stroke symptoms participates in the development of the app]( When someone has suffered a stroke, it's imperative that they receive medical attention as soon as possible. And while current diagnostic procedures take some time, an experimental smartphone app could deliver results much quicker. 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