Weekend Edition: Oculus Quest 2 is an even better portal into alternate worlds

After having spent a couple of months with the Oculus Quest 2, here's our review of the latest untethered VR headset from Facebook. There's also a collection of highlights from this year's all-digital CES, and our usual wrap of the week in science and more. Enjoy the Weekend Edition! [Virtual Reality]( [Review: Oculus Quest 2 is an even better portal into alternate worlds]( [The Oculus Quest 2 is vastly cheaper and better in just about every way than the amazing original]( The original Oculus Quest was one of the technology world's great game-changers, and the new Quest 2 makes big improvements everywhere while dropping the price. We've now spent a month with the world's latest, greatest standalone VR headset. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Carbon-monocoque Toyota Tacoma 4x4 RV is a mini explorer yacht on land]( [TruckHouse keeps things light but comfortable with a single-piece carbon-reinforced composite camper module]( TruckHouse turns the Toyota Tacoma into a compact all-terrain expedition vehicle, finding a middle ground between huge trucks and 4x4 camper vans. Its carbon fiber off-road camper rig explores and camps the most distant stretches of Earthly land. [Read more]( [Home Entertainment]( [ViewSonic launches 4K projector for budget home theaters]( [As it's name suggests, the PX701-4K can throw Ultra High Definition visuals on a wall or screen, with support for HDR content and a game-friendly refresh rate]( California's consumer tech company ViewSonic has launched a new DLP projector at the all-digital CES 2021 that's aimed at home movie lovers who want 4K for under a grand. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Ancient Roman concrete mineral found strengthening nuclear reactor walls]( [Concrete walls at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant were found to have become stronger over their lifetime]( Researchers have found that the concrete walls in a decommissioned power plant in Japan have not only kept their strength over the decades but have actually gotten stronger with use, thanks to a rare mineral also found in ancient Roman concrete. [Read more]( [Environment]( ["Salmon cannon" successor automatically shoots fish up over dams]( [A chinook salmon zips through the Whooshh Passage Portal's tubing within a matter of seconds]( Back in 2014, we heard about a so-called "fish gun" or "salmon cannon" that safely shot spawning fish up over river-blocking obstacles such as dams. Its successor is now in use, offering a couple of key advantages over the original system. [Read more]( [Drones]( [Tando drone is designed to serve as a flying security guard]( [Protective screens keep the drone's whirling propellers away from employees' fingers]( Flying drones are already used to patrol outdoor areas, but indoors where GPS doesn't work? Not so much. That could be about to change, though, with the launch of the Tando system. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [New insights into how COVID-19 can impact the brain and CNS]( [New research demonstrates SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect brain cells]( A robust new study has comprehensively demonstrated how SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, can infect the brain and central nervous system. The study validates a growing body of research attributing neurological issues to COVID-19. [Read more]( [Drones]( [Wacky-winged drones may have a flying ace up their sleeve]( [Plans call for FLY-R's jet-powered R2-HSTD to fly at speeds of up to Mach 0.65]( There are now a lot of fixed-wing drones on the market, and most of them look pretty similar. FLY-R's aircraft are different, though, in that they incorporate a rhomboidal wing design – it's claimed to offer some distinct advantages. [Read more]( [Mobile Technology]( [Samsung's new Galaxy S21 phones raise the specs and lower the price]( [There are three new phones under the Galaxy S21 name]( We've barely got into 2021 and the first flagship phones of the year are already here. Samsung just revealed its Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra handsets for 2021, following on from last year's Galaxy S20 series. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Sono Motors drives latest Sion solar EV prototype into CES 2021]( [The second generation Sion Solar Electric Vehicle prototype gives a the most complete picture so far of what's in store for the production vehicle]( Sono Motors has shown the second-gen Sion vehicle prototype at CES 2021, which features 248 photovoltaic panels integrated into the vehicle's body that will top up its battery pack during daylight hours, for up to 20 miles of extra range per day. [Read more]( [Laptops]( [Razer shows off wild gaming chair concept and new Blade laptops]( [The Project Brooklyn concept, complete with rollout 60-inch screen]( The cool new tech keeps coming at CES 2021, and gaming firm Razer has joined the party. It's showing off upgrades to its flagship Blade laptop line, as well as an immersive gaming chair concept that features a 60-inch rollout OLED display. [Read more]( [Science]( [Snakes spotted forming "lassos" to climb in surprising new videos]( [Biologist Bruce Jayne holding a brown tree snake, which have now been discovered climbing in never-before-seen ways]( Scientists have observed snakes using an entirely unknown way of getting around. Brown tree snakes in Guam have been spotted climbing objects by wrapping themselves into a never-before-seen “lasso” shape. [Read more]( [Physics]( [New quantum particle may have been accidentally discovered]( [A new type of quantum particle called a neutral fermion may have been discovered in an insulating material]( Princeton physicists have accidentally discovered an unexpected quantum behavior in an insulator that was thought to be unique to metals. The find suggests a brand new type of quantum particle, which the team calls a neutral fermion. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [COVID-19 severity linked to gut bacteria in first-of-its-kind study]( [An observational study suggests certain microbiome imbalances correspond with the severity of COVID-19 and persistent symptoms of the disease]( A first-of-its-kind study has found a link between COVID-19 severity and the gut microbiome. The research suggests specific microbial patterns correlate with disease severity and those bacterial imbalances may account for some cases of “long COVID”. [Read more]( [Around The Home]( [ColdSnap makes single-serving fresh ice cream from unrefrigerated pods]( [ColdSnap has been presented with a CES 2021 Innovation Award]( Along with single servings of coffee, we've also seen Keurig-like pods used to dispense cocktails, wine, fresh tortillas and even full meals. ColdSnap forges into different territory, by serving up fresh ice cream and other frosty treats. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Nio EP7 promises 621-mile electric range and quick-swappable batteries]( [The ET7 is Nio's first sedan, and its first autonomous-capable vehicle, with a massive 150-kWh, 621-mile battery option to come in late 2022]( Chinese Tesla rival Nio has unveiled its first electric sedan following several SUVs and the wild EP9 supercar. The ET7 promises supercar-level acceleration, a focus on autonomy, and a monster 621-mile range from a huge 150-kWh solid-state battery. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [FAA clears the path for supersonic flight testing over US soil]( [The Aerion AS2 is designed to fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.4]( The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has released new regulations streamlining the path to supersonic flight testing over US soil, giving a new generation of super-fast aircraft a chance to prove their "boomless cruise" capabilities over land. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Chronic gut inflammation triggered by e-cigarette use]( [New research suggests e-cigarette vapor weakens the integrity of gut lining and leads to chronic inflammation]( New research suggests e-cigarette vapor alone, free of nicotine or flavoring, can trigger gut inflammation. Across a series of experiments the study demonstrated how e-cigarette vapor can weaken the gut’s lining and lead to chronic inflammation. [Read more]( [Mobile Technology]( [The new Moto G phones offer affordable 5G and a stylus]( [The 2021 Moto G Play (left), Moto G Stylus (center), and Moto G Power (right)]( Motorola has unveiled four new affordable Moto G phones at CES 2021, and there's something for everyone shopping for a value-for-money Android phone: we've got 5G, a stylus-enabled model, strong battery life and more in this new selection. [Read more]( [Urban Transport]( [CityQ is like a four-wheeled electronic-drive ebike]( [The CityQ has four 20-inch wheels ... but no chain, belt drive or derailleur]( Ebikes may indeed require less pedalling effort than regular bicycles, but most still offer little in the way of cargo capacity or protection from the elements. The CityQ is designed to provide both, along with four-wheeled stability. [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 © 2021