Russia's massive Lakhta Center named skyscraper of the year

[Architecture]( [Russia's massive Lakhta Center named skyscraper of the year]( [The Lakhta Center, by Gorproject and RMJM, has been declared the world's best new skyscraper by information specialist Emporis during its annual Skyscraper Award]( Emporis has revealed the winner of its annual Skyscraper Award. From over 700 skyscrapers, the number one spot has gone to Russia's massive Lakhta Center, which rises to a maximum height of 462 m (1,516 ft) in St. Petersburg. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Snag this top-rated VPN and password manager package for under $100]( If you're in need of a VPN service, top-rated company NordVPN is offering an exclusive subscription package that will safely protect your browsing for only $99.99. This package also includes NordPass password manager - all available for 71% off. [Read more]( [Science]( [Research reveals gut bacteria reduces effect of common diabetes drug]( [The efficacy of metformin, a first-line drug treatment for type 2 diabetes, may be influenced by microbial metabolites produced in the gut]( New research has found a metabolite produced by gut bacteria can block the beneficial effects of a popular diabetes medication, offering valuable insights into how an individual’s unique microbiome can influence their response to certain drugs. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Electricity-free cooling material is inspired by camel fur]( [Less than half an inch (12 mm) thick, the two-layer material consists of a hydrogel on the bottom and an aerogel on top]( Materials stay cooler when water evaporates off of them, but once all the water is gone, the cooling effect stops. Bearing this in mind, MIT scientists have developed a camel fur-inspired material that could keep items cool without using electricity. [Read more]( [Electronics]( [Samsung's hologram prototype sports 4K visuals and wide viewing angle]( [Thanks to Samsung's prototype hologram device, the fairy appears to be hovering in the hand – but in actuality she's displayed on the screen in the background]( Sci-fi has been promising holograms for decades, but they always feel out of reach. Now Samsung has made strides towards realistic holograms, with a prototype thin-panel device that can display 3D images in 4K resolution with a wide viewing angle. [Read more]( [Bicycles]( [Nireeka debuts flagship Sierra & Nyx carbon-framed enduro ebikes]( [The Nireeka Nyx becomes the flagship of the range, a high-spec carbon-framed enduro off-road ebike]( Nireeka has upped the ante with its most ambitious ebikes to date. The Sierra and Nyx are a pair of lightweight, competitively priced, full-suspension off-roaders featuring high-quality components and Nireeka's gorgeous custom carbon frames. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Lilium plans a flying taxi "vertiport" for Florida in 2025]( [A render of one of Lilium's vertiports]( Lilium is one of a number of startups working to make flying taxis a reality, and is now offering folks a new look at its vision by divulging plans for its first “vertiport” planned for Orlando, Florida, in 2025. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [BMW iX grilles its way toward a high-tech electric future]( [Powered by a 500-hp dual-motor electric drive, the iX can run 0 to 62 mph in an estimated five seconds or less]( Two years ago, BMW rolled the Vision iNext out as a wheeled laboratory of next-gen autonomous and HMI technology. Today, the iNext turns into the iX, a big step toward a production 300-mile (483-km) electric SUV on its way to market next year. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Russia claims COVID-19 vaccine success, mass vaccinations may begin soon]( [Russian researchers suggest their vaccine is both safe and 92 percent effective at protecting against COVID-19]( Days after Pfizer revealed vaccine trial data, Russian authorities have announced their vaccine candidate is also demonstrating promising results. Experts call the Russian data encouraging, but caution the results are premature and based on low numbers. [Read more]( [Space]( [NASA certifies SpaceX's spacecraft ahead of landmark Crew-1 mission]( [A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon in the hangar at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center earlier this month]( After a long road featuring uncrewed test flights, launchpad explosions, parachute tests and finally crewed test flights, NASA has now officially certified SpaceX’s spacecraft system for transporting humans to the International Space Station (ISS). [Read more]( [Medical]( [Smart wrap puts the squeeze on underactive bladders]( [A new kind of medical implant could be used to treat underactive bladders]( Underactive bladder syndrome is a condition that leaves sufferers with an inability to properly empty the organ, but an international team of researchers has been working on an advanced medical implant that could make it far easier to manage. [Read more]( [Mobile Technology]( [AR app puts a virtual classical piano jam in your living room]( [Jon Schmidt from The Piano Guys has been digitized to create a realistic 3D avatar that can be seated at a home piano via a mobile app]( Augmented reality has previously allowed us to place furniture in a room before buying, bring photos to life and go gaming on the streets. Now you can have a life-like avatar perform an upbeat version of a Beethoven classic in your front room. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Throat-zapping tech shown to help treat swallowing disorders]( [The Phagenyx system delivers electrical stimulation to the brain's swallow control centers, via the back of the throat]( When someone has experienced a stroke or brain injury, it's not uncommon for them to lose their ability to swallow. A new study, however, suggests that a throat-zapping system could help correct the problem faster than traditional treatments. [Read more]( [Photography]( [Leica debuts the Q2 Monochrom, a super high-res B&W street shooter]( [Leica's next generation Q camera features a dedicated Monochrom full-frame CMOS sensor]( Clearly there are some photographers out there who love black and white images and have cash to burn. Following the launch of the M10 Monochrom in January, Leica has stripped its full-frame Q2 camera of all its color for the $6,000 Q2 Monochrom. [Read more]( [Games]( [PlayStation 5 and PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S]( [New Atlas compares the specs, features, games and hardware of the PlayStation 5, PS5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X]( Microsoft and Sony have both just launched their next-generation consoles. But which one is best for you? New Atlas compares the specs, features, hardware and games of the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. [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 © 2020