Weekend Edition: World's latest electric RV is an awesomely multifunctional mini-camper

The new age of e-transport isn't all about the urban jungle – there's a growing number of zero-emissions options for heading into the wild, too. The latest iteration of one of the coolest electric mini-campers getting around heads our look back at the best of New Atlas this week, alongside a new development in the quest for eternal youth, an innovative take on ebike conversions, and an incredibly efficient plane that just happens to look like a flying suppository. Thanks for reading! Noel McKeegan Editor in Chief Automotive [World's latest electric RV is an awesomely multifunctional mini-camper]( [The Vanderer Urban Camper goes electric with what Peugeot calls the e-Rifter Vanderer]( The homey, modular Vanderer camper van is going fully electric. Vanderer now offers the package on the Peugeot e-Rifter, and it's hard to tell what's most efficient – the electric powertrain or van's ability to work as both daily driver and camper. [Read more]( Sponsored Content [EOFY 2022: Get The Best Power Station For Less]( With the End of Financial Year well underway, BLUETTI offers massive markdowns across plenty of solar generators, starting from June 12, 11 AM AEST to June 23, 12 AM AEST. Grab this chance to level up the off-grid life experience before it’s too late. [Read more]( Medical [Anti-aging breakthrough dials up fatty acid signaling to boost longevity]( [A new study has uncovered a new platform for cells to talk to one another, which appears to play a role in the aging process]( Scientists studying the intricate mechanics behind the aging process have made a discovery that could lead to improved health later in life, dialing up a form of fatty acid signaling to increase the lifespan of roundworms. [Read more]( Energy [China tests world-first full-function space solar verification tower]( [Xidian University has built a 75 meter-tall ground verification system to perform and test all phases of space-based solar power generation and transmission]( In many ways, space is the perfect place for a solar energy array. In other ways, it poses massive technical challenges. China's Xidian University has begun testing the full range of space solar functions with a purpose-built 75-meter tower facility. [Read more]( Aircraft [World's most efficient passenger plane gets hydrogen powertrain]( [The entire shape is designed for extreme efficiency, and as a result Otto says the Celera uses an astonishing 80% less fuel than a comparably sized jet]( The Celera 500L is a truly remarkable design. Otto Aviation says its odd shape delivers an astonishing 59% reduction in drag, so it can cruise as fast as a small jet while using 80% less fuel. Now, Otto and ZeroAvia are giving it a clean powertrain. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Noom will help you take control of your health]( Many adults have tried every approach in the book to lose weight. But, certain types of dieting can lead to unhealthy side effects. If you’re looking for a way to lose weight and lead a healthier life, Noom may be the perfect program for you. [Read more]( Bicycles [Skarper tech turns bikes into ebikes by powering the brake rotor]( [Skarper's DiskDrive unit can be set to different assistance modes, depending on rider preferences]( There are now many kits for converting regular bikes into ebikes, most of which involve swapping in a motorized wheel or adding a device that rolls against the rear tire. The Skarper system is different, in that it drives the bike's rear brake rotor. [Read more]( Science [Study suggests a beer a day can increase diversity of gut bacteria]( [A new study has explored the benefits of moderate beer consumption for gut health]( A small pilot study suggests that moderate consumption of lager beer may influence the diversity of our gut bacteria in a positive way, whether it's a traditional brew or one of the increasingly popular non-alcoholic variety. [Read more]( Bicycles [Sharp-looking folding ebike built for city commutes and off-road fun]( [The Eole X folding ebike rides on puncture-resistant tires, features a 350-W hub motor and comes with bump-soaking rear suspension]( Back in 2020, Morfuns launched a lightweight folding ebike called the Éole on Indiegogo. Now the company has returned with a sleek new model with an aluminum alloy frame, the option of full suspension and up to 115 km of all-terrain range on tap. [Read more]( Photography [$15 million Leica camera was owned by the man who democratized photography]( [When the hammer came down on 11 June 2022 in Vienna, Leitz Photographica had broken its own world auction record for the seventh consecutive time. Apart from a charity auction (which we don't count), only 12 cameras have ever sold for more than a million dollars, all of them at Leitz Photographica.]( Vienna’s Leitz Photographica Auctions celebrated its 20th year in business this week when it sold the camera of the man who invented 35-mm photography for €14,400,000, smashing the previous world record of €2,400,000. [Read more]( Automotive [ONE's 752-mile EV battery propels plans for its first US factory]( [A retrofitted Tesla Model S on the road during a 752-mile journey demonstrating ONE's battery technology]( Michigan-based startup Our Next Energy (ONE) is on a mission to provide cheap batteries that propel electric vehicles much farther on each charge, and the last few months have seen it make some serious waves in the space. [Read more]( Automotive [In-road inductive charging tests demonstrate unlimited EV range]( [Tests with an electric Fiat New 500 have confirmed that in-road inductive charging can deliver theoretically unlimited EV driving range]( The world's fifth-largest automaker has built and tested a charge-as-you-drive system – a loop of road in Italy with wireless EV charging coils embedded under the surface, so that electric cars can charge as they drive and unlock unlimited range. [Read more]( Biology [Whisker-cams unravel the mystery of how seals feed in the dark]( [The northern elephant seal has more nerve fibers per whisker than any other mammal]( Using their sonar system, toothed whales are able to zero in on prey in the pitch black conditions of the deep sea. Seals lack such a system, but still catch prey in the same conditions. New research now shows how their whiskers allow them to do so. [Read more]( Outdoors [Nitecore's 20,000-lumen flashlight cuts through 300 yards of darkness]( [The Nitecore TM20K is priced at US$300]( As the name might suggest, Nitecore's line of Tiny Monster flashlights are design to pack maximum punch into compact packages, and the recently introduced TM20K cranks up the illumination to a blinding 20,000 lumens. [Read more]( Energy [Japan tests deep-ocean current turbines in search of new renewables]( [The Kairyu ocean current turbine, a 20 x 20-meter test unit capable of generating 100 kW, has completed testing after more than three years underwater]( Japan's solar potential isn't great, but it does sit right next to one of the world's most powerful ocean currents – so the country is searching for novel ways to bulk up its green energy generation in the form of giant deep ocean turbines. [Read more]( Motorcycles [OX Patagonia promises affordable electric adventure motorcycling]( [The Ox Patagonia: electric "adventure" motorcycling focused on affordable practicality]( Spanish startup Ox Motorcycles has tarted up its electric cafe racer into a scrambler-style "adventure" machine. The Ox Patagonia might not drop any jaws on a spec sheet, but at a price under US$7,200, it looks both affordable and practical. [Read more]( Space [Gaia maps two billion Milky Way objects in unprecedented detail]( [This map shows the 3D motion of 26 million Milky Way stars. Blue regions indicate where the average velocity of stars is moving towards us, while red areas are where the average is moving away. The lines indicate how stars will move across the plane of the sky.]( The most comprehensive picture of the Milky Way just got more detailed. Gaia's third data release covers almost 2 billion stars, including their makeup and movements, plus new catalogs of starquakes, binary systems, variable stars and other objects. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Piccola Casa puts a contemporary spin on tiny living]( [The Piccola Casa is based on a double-axle trailer and measures 6 m (19.6 ft) in length]( French firm Baluchon's latest tiny house embraces a modern, contemporary look. The towable home features a light-filled living area and a simple, space-saving layout that helps to maximize the limited floorspace available. 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