Weekend Edition: Forget the Hindenburg, remember the H2 Clipper

Could hydrogen airships return to the skies in the 21st century? Loz Blain asks the question this week in his look at ambitious California startup H2 Clipper. Elsewhere, Michael Irving dives into the discovery of new water stores in Mars' Grand Canyon, Chris Weiss introduces us to the Campravan, and Bridget Borgobello checks out a not-so-tiny cabin in the Catskills. Enjoy our look back at the best stories of the week! Noel McKeegan Editor-in-Chief Aircraft [Could hydrogen airships return as fast, cheap, green cargo transports?]( [Is it time to resurrect hydrogen airships – not to carry passengers, but as fast, cheap and convenient cargo carriers?]( California startup H2 Clipper wants to bring back hydrogen-filled airships, claiming they can unlock completely green intercontinental cargo operations carrying 8-10 times the payload of any cargo plane over 6,000 miles, at a quarter of the price. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [This Smart Visual Ear Cleaner takes daily hygiene to a new level]( The Smart Visual Ear Cleaner reinvents your daily hygiene routine with a 360° wide-angle view of the inside of the ear that’s streamed directly to your phone. It gives you access to information that you've never had before. [Read more]( Outdoors [Expandable teardrop camper stretches into panoramic multi-room cabin]( [Hunter Nature's Raptor XC includes a rear-mounted solar panel]( The new Hunter Nature Raptor XC trailer adds an extra room with a long slide-out, accommodating a family with a master bedroom, dining area, indoor kitchen and wet bathroom. The trailer lives like a larger caravan and tows like a teardrop. [Read more]( Space [Huge supply of subterranean water discovered in Mars' Grand Canyon]( [A section of Valles Marineris, the "Grand Canyon" of Mars where a huge supply of water has now been discovered just below the surface]( A huge deposit of water has been discovered on Mars in a formation often called its Grand Canyon. The Trace Gas Orbiter has detected an area the size of the Netherlands where water could make up as much as 40 percent of the material near the surface. [Read more]( Medical [First FDA-approved eye drops to replace reading glasses go on sale]( [Vuity eyedrops have gone on sale as an alternative to reading glasses]( The first FDA-approved eye drops to treat age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia) has gone on sale in the US, offering a potential alternative to reading glasses for the estimated 128 million Americans affected by this common condition. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Two vaccine doses won’t protect from Omicron infection, Oxford study finds]( [The data shows Omicron evades neutralizing antibodies generated by two doses of either the AstraZeneca of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines]( A new study has found two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may not be enough to protect against infection from the Omicron variant. The data does not indicate Omicron can evade vaccine protection from severe disease. [Read more]( Motorcycles [Stark Varg: The "world's fastest electric dirtbike" comes out swinging]( [This electric soil disperser claims to be the fastest, most powerful dirt bike on the planet]( Some electric dirtbikes hope to compete with gasoline-burners. The Stark Varg aims to dominate, destroy and humiliate them anywhere it's allowed to line up beside them. This is the most powerful, most extreme electric dirtbike we've ever seen. [Read more]( Architecture [Two-story cabin in the woods pops up in 10 days]( [Two views of Backcountry Hut Company's new Catskills Cabin]( Backcountry Hut Company (BHC) has unveiled a new model dubbed the Catskills Cabin. The compact dwelling is inspired by traditional alpine cabin design, and its entire exterior shell only took 10 days to fully install. [Read more]( Aircraft [It's a bird... and a plane? Africa's own bizarre "NVTOL" birdoplane]( [Africa's all-electric Phractyl Macrobat birdoplane will squat back, tilt its wings skyward, and perform "near vertical" takeoff and landing]( African startup Phractyl has shown us a concept unlike anything we've seen before – or are likely to see again, if we're honest. With tracked feet, bird legs, a tilting cabin and tilting wings, this avant-garde absurdity promises "near-VTOL" flight. [Read more]( Robotics [Carbon fiber exoskeleton first to support two body regions]( [The waterproof 5th-gen Cray X supports the lower back during lifting, and comes with walking assist]( Last year, German Bionic revealed a fourth generation of its Cray X exoskeleton, keeping things light by employing a carbon fiber frame. Now the 5th gen has been announced, which is reported to be the first of its kind to support two body regions. [Read more]( Materials [Special porous copper kills golden staph bacteria 120 times faster]( [A scanning microscope image of the copper, showing comb-like cavities]( While copper does kill bacteria on contact, it typically takes at least an hour to do the job thoroughly. Such is not the case with a new type of copper, however, which is said to eradicate almost 100 percent of harmful bacteria in just two minutes. [Read more]( Environment [Coastal creatures found living aboard floating trash in the open ocean]( [Anika Albrecht of Ocean Voyages Institute, on a 2020 expedition collecting plastic waste in the ocean]( A new study has shown that creatures typically inhabiting coastal areas are hitching rides out to sea aboard plastic waste, and are able to not just survive, but thrive out in the open ocean ... with untold impacts on the ecosystem. [Read more]( Automotive [Volkswagen confirms ID. California electric camper van on the way]( [Volkswagen revealed this latest photo of a camouflaged ID. Buzz, announcing that the e-van is ready for series production]( A Volkswagen ID. Buzz-based electric camper van comes as little surprise since camping has been entwined in the Buzz's DNA since before it was approved for production. But now it's official; VW announces development work on an ID. California camper. [Read more]( Medical [Mobile MRI machine detects brain disorders at a fraction of the cost]( [Left: Brain scans of tumors using the portable MRI, with a power of 0.055 T. Right: Scans using conventional MRI of 3 T]( MRI is a powerful diagnostic tool, but the size and cost limits where it can be used. A compact, affordable new MRI system uses a much smaller magnetic field and doesn’t require shielding, and is still able to diagnose brain disorders in patients. [Read more]( Automotive [Toyota concept fleet jumpstarts BEV era and teases all-electric Lexus]( [Toyota's pickup EV sure looks like an electric interpretation of the Tacoma ... an exciting proposition for a serious Rivian R1T-fighter]( Looking to shed an image of dragging its feet on BEVs, Toyota has unveiled more than a dozen electric concepts ranging from sports cars to pickup trucks that stand as testament to the company's newfound EV commitment. [Read more]( Marine [Swiss smart yacht points solar-hydrogen power toward "limitless" range]( [The Aquon One makes its own hydrogen using solar-powered electrolysis]( Combining two forms of sustainable energy into one, Swiss Sustainable Yachts' Aquon One catamaran harnesses solar energy to create its own hydrogen, powering a fuel cell drive to potentially limitless autonomy. [Read more]( Environment [Thwaites Glacier's critical ice shelf could collapse within five years]( [Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica]( Data from a comprehensive study into Thwaites Glacier is painting a bleak picture. A research team has found that a protective ice shelf will likely collapse within five years, which will speed up the destabilization of the West Antarctic ice sheet. [Read more]( Architecture [Tree-covered tower gives every resident a greenery filled balcony]( [Trudo Tower's exterior features 135 trees, as well as 8,500 bushes and 1,500 plants]( You could be forgiven for assuming that you'd need a CEO's salary to live in one of Stefano Boeri's Vertical Forests. However, his firm's latest high-rise hosts affordable social housing and provides each resident with a greenery filled balcony. [Read more]( Mobile Technology [Oppo steps into Samsung territory with first foldable smartphone]( [The Find N foldable flagship has been launched to the Chinese market only for the moment]( Oppo has followed yesterday's launch of the Air Glass smart monocle with a Galaxy Fold challenger. The Find N is a little more compact than Samsung's flagship, and boasts Snapdragon 888 performance, five cameras and all-day battery life. 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