Weekend Edition: Self-driving electric Airstream trailer smartens up off-grid living

Take one timeless design, add an 80-kWh lithium battery pack, a range-boosting electric drive, and plenty of home comforts and you get the quintessential 21st-century glamping experience. Chris Weiss' look at Airstream's boundary-pushing eStream travel trailer concept leads our highlights in a week where we also encountered dragonfly-sized drones, impossible 2D materials, and a radical new VTOL airplane that doubles as a hovercraft. Thanks for reading New Atlas! Noel McKeegan Editor-in-Chief Outdoors [Self-driving electric Airstream trailer smartens up off-grid living]( [Enjoying off-grid living with the Airstream eStream electric camping trailer]( When Airstream introduced its eStream self-propelled trailer concept last month, it left out some critical details. Now it's filled in the blanks, explaining more on how the 80-kWh battery runs the e-drive and creates an off-grid glamping getaway. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [This award-winning, expandable and durable suitcase is $150 off]( Although traveling can be exciting, it can very quickly also be stressful — especially if you're traveling by plane. Make your next trip a bit less complicated with luggage that works with your needs and provides the ultimate packing flexibility. [Read more]( Aircraft [US Air Force backs Valkyrie's high-speed, amphibious jet-powered eVTOL]( [Valkyrie combines electric VTOL with jet-powered cruise in an amphibious stealth package]( Reno-based Valkyrie Systems Aerospace has received a research grant from the US Air Force to further develop its remarkable HoverJet Guardian concept, which combines electric VTOL and high-speed jet cruise with amphibious and hovercraft capabilities. [Read more]( Photography [Highlights from the International Landscape Photographer of the Year]( [Top 100. Born of Fire. Fagradalsfjall area, Iceland]( Cementing its place as one of the most spectacular contests on the calendar, the International Landscape Photographer of the Year again delivers a stunning set of images, from mythical shots of snow-covered forests to awe-inspiring descents into volcanos. [Read more]( Drones [Dragonfly-sized drone flaps its wings more efficiently than insects]( [A front view of the new flapping mini drone]( No matter how good our human designs may be, there’s no shame in copying Mother Nature’s homework. A new nature-inspired flying robot can flap its wings even more efficiently than an insect, using a unique electrostatic “zipping” mechanism. [Read more]( Materials ["Impossible" 2D material is light as plastic and stronger than steel]( [A sample of the new 2D polymer material 2DPA-1, as well as some of the things it could be used for]( Engineers at MIT have developed a new ultrathin material as light as plastic but stronger than steel. The durable material could be used in vehicles or electronics, and makes use of a manufacturing technique that was previously thought impossible. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Liver hormone may help reduce alcohol addiction]( [Experiments in mice and monkeys have shown that a liver hormone could help reduce problematic alcohol intake]( Researchers have uncovered the role of a liver hormone in alcohol addiction. Monkeys with a strong alcohol preference drank far less after they were given a synthetic version of the hormone, opening new potential treatments for alcohol addiction. [Read more]( Aircraft [Jetpack racing could join this year's Air Race World Championship]( [JetPack Aviation CEO and test pilot David Mayman]( JetPack Aviation CEO David Mayman says the company is in discussions with the Air Race World Championship team on starting a world-first race series in September that would see jetpack pilots competing on parallel aerial obstacle courses. [Read more]( Automotive [Koenigsegg aims to reinvent electric drive with new Raxial Flux motors]( [The compact, flat Koenigsegg Quark motor is designed to integrate easily into supercars and other vehicles]( Koenigsegg's latest breakthrough comes in the form of a compact, power/torque-dense electric motor. The new Quark motor will help the boundary-smashing Gemera four-seater achieve sprint times formerly reserved for the quickest electric coupes. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [What is the Omicron BA.2 variant and is it more dangerous?]( [A new subtype of the Omicron variant is currently spreading, but what is BA.2, where did it come from, and is it more dangerous than prior variants?]( You may have heard there is a new variant in town. Labeled everything from "son of Omicron" to "stealth Omicron," its real scientific label at the moment is simply BA.2. So what is BA.2 and should you be worried about this newly emerging variant? [Read more]( Medical [Stem cell rejuvenation helps immunotherapy fight cancer tirelessly]( [Researchers in Japan have developed a way to rejuvenate immune cells using stem cells, to improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes]( Immunotherapy is a promising new form of cancer treatment, but the supercharged immune cells it employs can become exhausted in the fight. Researchers in Japan have found a way to keep them going for longer, by rejuvenating them with stem cells. [Read more]( Medical [Chemicals in plastics may be a driver of weight gain, study finds]( [Scientists have studied the chemical components of everyday plastics such as drink bottles, and found that many contribute to fat cell development in mice]( Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have found that chemicals in plastic could be helping drive rising rates of obesity around the world, by entering the human body and interfering with our metabolism. [Read more]( Automotive [Review: 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is, well, not a Prius]( [The 2022 Toyota Corolla has contemporary looks and a smooth style]( If Toyota is known for anything, it’s hybrids. The Prius is synonymous with the term and Toyota has more hybrids than any other automaker. The Corolla Hybrid is a step up from the Prius in terms of style and interior appeal, but that step is subjective. [Read more]( Medical ["Pain pathway" a promising new drug target to treat osteoarthritis pain]( [Researchers have investigated the role a particular signaling pathway plays in osteoarthritis pain]( Researchers have identified a signaling pathway involved with osteoarthritis pain. A study in mice found that normal limb use returned after this pathway was blocked, which could lead to new pain treatments for patients with osteoarthritis. [Read more]( 3D Printing [InfraredTags embed "invisible" info within 3D-printed objects]( [Only visible to infrared cameras, InfraredTags could provide information such as where and when a product was made, what it's made of, and instructions for its use]( Barcode stickers may provide valuable information on products, but they're rather unsightly, and they peel off over time. An experimental new alternative, however, is 3D-printed right into the item, and is invisible to the naked eye. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [The Boulder 2.5 offers a tiny house that's actually tiny]( [The Boulder 2.5 measures just 18 ft (5.4 m) length, which is definitely on the small side for a North American tiny house]( A lot of so-called tiny houses we see nowadays are anything but, with huge towable apartments quite common. However, with its recently completed Boulder 2.5, Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses has created a tiny house that's actually worthy of the name. [Read more]( Good Thinking [Pathfinder+ multi-tool adds six functions to your keychain]( [The Pathfinder+ multi-tool is presently on Kickstarter]( Although most multi-tools fit easily into a pocket, for some people they're still too bulky and obtrusive. Such folks might be interested in the Pathfinder+, as it's a six-function gadget that can be attached to a keychain. [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 © 2022