Weekend Edition: Go-further eVTOLS, clever camper vans, and spinal cord repair

[New Atlas logo]( eVTOLs promise to revolutionize cross-city travel, but Rolls-Royce is looking to make them suited for intra-city trips as well, by developing a turbogenerator that can extend the range of such aircraft. We also check out a Ford-Transit-based camper van that employs a multitude of space-saving tricks, and check out a cancer drug that could give hope to those suffering spinal cord injuries. All that and more in our weekly look back at the best of New Atlas. Thanks for reading and enjoy the Weekend Edition! Aircraft [New Rolls-Royce turbogenerator upgrades any eVTOL's range and payload]( [Rolls-Royce has announced a series of compact, lightweight, efficient turbogenerators specifically designed to radically boost the range of eVTOL aircraft]( The world's second largest aircraft engine manufacturer is developing a series of compact, lightweight, highly efficient and fully certified turbogenerators, designed to radically upgrade the range and payload capabilities of any eVTOL aircraft. [Read more]( Automotive [Ford AWD camper van cranks up next-level versatility and autonomy]( [Grit Overland GO A/T camper van]( Grit Overland raises the bar on floor plan flexibility. It uses virtually every trick we've seen (and some we haven't) to get the most out of every inch of an off-grid Ford Transit camper van ready to transport, sleep, feed and power up the family. [Read more]( Medical [Cancer drug triggers remarkable recovery from spinal cord injury in mice]( [New research has shown the exciting potential of an experimental cancer drug to treat injured spinal cords]( A drug under investigation as a cancer treatment has shown exciting promise in a rather different branch of medical research, with scientists demonstrating how it can promote nerve repair following spinal injury. [Read more]( Energy [Algae biopanel windows make power, oxygen and biomass, and suck up CO2]( [Attractively-designed algae bioreactor panels for sustainable building design]( Beautifully designed, energy-generating bio-panels that suck up carbon dioxide and pump out biomass for use as fuel or fertilizer – that's the idea behind Mexican startup Greenfluidics and its nanotech-enhanced microalgae bioreactor building panels. [Read more]( Science [Stress hormone awakens our brain 100 times a night to shape our memory]( [A new study has furthered our understanding of the relationship between sleep, stress and memory]( Scientists probing the mysterious machinations of the brain during sleep have made a fascinating discovery around how its chemistry changes throughout the night, which may have implications for the way we retain memories. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Just 4 alcoholic drinks a week could contribute to cognitive decline]( [A new study found moderate alcohol drinkers displayed higher levels of iron in their brain]( A striking study looking at over 20,000 people has found as little as four alcoholic drinks a week can be linked to brain changes associated with cognitive decline. The research is the first to correlate brain iron levels with moderate alcohol consumption. [Read more]( Bicycles [Stunning belt-drive commuter ebike rides for 50 miles with angular elegance]( [The Honbike U4's stunning frame promotes an upright stance for riders between 5.25 and 6.2 ft in height]( Following crowdfunding success with the HF-01 shaft-driven folding ebike, Honbike has rolled out a striking new belt-drive city commuter called the U4, which offers pedal-assist up to 20 mph and can ride for over 50 miles on a single charge. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Timbercraft Tiny Homes' slimmed-down Teton sleeps four in rustic style]( [The Teton is based on a triple-axle trailer and measures a total length of 34 ft (10 m)]( Timbercraft Tiny Homes' latest model, the Teton, measures a total length of 34 ft, and features an attractive cottage-style rustic exterior and a carefully designed interior layout that offers a spacious kitchen and a pair of bedrooms. [Read more]( Transport [Switzerland's autonomous underground cargo system aims for 2031 debut]( [Cargo Sous Terrain is beginning work on the first 70-km stretch of an autonomous underground cargo logistics system]( A lot less technologically optimistic than the Hyperloop-TT Hyperport project, Cargo Sous Terrain looks considerably more likely to happen, with its first 10-stop, 70-km (43-mile) series of underground tunnels scheduled to begin taking cargo in 2031. [Read more]( Space [James Webb vs Hubble: Side-by-side comparisons highlight visual gains]( [The James Webb Telescope's stunning view of the Southern Ring Nebula – but how much better does it look compared to previous images?]( By now you’ve no doubt seen the first batch of images from NASA’s powerful new James Webb Space Telescope. But the scope of the achievement is hard to appreciate without context, so here they are side-by-side with Hubble’s views of the same regions. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Another study ties Alzheimer’s progression to bacteria in your mouth]( [Researchers have found mice infected with a certain type of oral bacteria displayed faster progression of Alzheimer's symptoms compared to uninfected animals]( A common type of oral bacteria associated with periodontal disease has been linked to neuroinflammation and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The research builds on a prior evidence linking poor oral health with dementia and neurodegeneration. [Read more]( Automotive [Mahle's new SCT electric motor runs non-stop at over 90% of peak power]( [The Superior Continuous Torque (SCT) motor punches harder for longer, allowing EV designers to run smaller, lighter electric motors]( Tier-one auto parts supplier Mahle has announced a groundbreaking "superior continuous torque" motor for electric vehicles, capable of continuously pounding out more than 90 percent of its peak power without overheating – and it'll work without magnets. [Read more]( Space [NASA releases spectacular first batch of images from James Webb]( [Some of the highlights – top left: the Southern Ring planetary nebula in near- and mid-infrared, the product of a dying star; top right: star formation in the Carina Nebula; bottom left: Stephan’s Quintet, an interacting galaxy group; bottom right: Webb’s first deep field image]( In what promises to be a veritable torrent of science, NASA has released the first batch of images from the James Webb Space Telescope, including the death throes of a star, a cluster of galaxies, and "cosmic cliffs" where stars are born. [Read more]( Aircraft [Israel's Air One personal eVTOL begins full-scale flight testing]( [The full-scale Air One prototype prepares for takeoff, with its flip-top canopy open]( Cleared for airworthiness, Air's first full-scale eVTOL prototype has started flight testing. The Air One is an attractive two-seat manned multicopter with wings, designed for personal ownership and fun flight dynamics, with a US$150,000 price tag. [Read more]( Space [Elon Musk's massive Mars rocket suffers an explosive setback]( [A SpaceX Starship SN8 prototype during an earlier test flight]( It was a case of two steps forward, one step back for SpaceX’s Starship development program today, with a dramatic explosion from a prototype of the company’s Mars-bound rocket during testing on the ground. [Read more]( Outdoors [Hard-wall camper hangs on Jeep Wrangler like a backpack with bathroom]( We've seen some odd Jeep Wrangler campers in the past, but the Backwoods Camper might take the cake. It's like a pickup camper without the pickup bed, hanging off the back of an SUV of choice to create a small, versatile go-anywhere micro-RV. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [A poor diet can't be entirely offset by more exercise, study finds]( [According to new findings, it is crucial to combine a good diet with vigorous exercise in order to live a long healthy life]( Planning an extra hour in the gym to counteract the effects of that doughnut in the morning? Think again. According to new research from the University of Sydney, high levels of exercise cannot offset the damaging effects of poor dietary choices. [Read more]( Around The Home [Titanium multi-tool adds extra functionality to the humble keychain]( [The K-Smart keychain multi-tool is presently on Kickstarter]( Multi-tools definitely are useful, but not everyone likes jamming the things down into a pocket. That's not a problem with the titanium-bodied K-Smart, since it doubles as a clip-on chainring which can be quickly removed as needed. [Read more]( Biology [Study suggests pocket gophers may be the only other mammal that farms]( [Rarely seen above-ground, a pocket gopher peeks out of one its tunnels]( When we think of our fellow plant-eating mammals, we tend to picture them just eating whatever they find while foraging. According to new research, however, the pocket gopher actually farms its food … and it's the only non-human mammal to do so. [Read more]( Biology [New "giant dragon" dinosaur offers clues to T-rex's weirdly tiny arms]( [An artist's impression of Meraxes gigas, a new species of giant predatory dinosaur discovered in Patagonia]( Paleontologists have described a new species of giant carnivorous dinosaur from a fairly complete skeleton in Patagonia. The discovery could help shed new light on the mystery of why such powerful predators had almost comically tiny arms. [Read more]( Space [NASA's asteroid sampler narrowly avoided sinking into surface of Bennu]( [Artist's concept of OSIRIS-REx]( In October 2020, NASA’s OSRISIS-REx spacecraft made history by touching down on the asteroid Bennu and grabbing a sample of rock and debris. New analysis of this encounter has revealed the probe was lucky to avoid sinking into the asteroid's surface. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Does BA.5 cause more severe disease than earlier Omicron subvariants?]( [Scientists are currently grappling with the question of whether Omicron BA.5 leads to more severe COVID-19 compared to prior Omicron iterations]( The Omicron subvariant BA.5 is now dominant in the US but scientists are playing catch up trying to understand whether it will lead to more severe disease than prior COVID variants. Two new preprint studies are offering unique insights into BA.5. [Read more]( Space [Nanoracks takes out the ISS trash in orbital reentry bags]( [The Nanoracks system uses a special airlock dispenser]( Nanoracks, in conjunction with NASA's Johnson Space Center, has successfully expelled 172 lb (78 kg) of trash from the ISS in a high-tech bin liner that was ejected from the station's Bishop Airlock on June 2 to then burn up in the atmosphere. [Read more]( Automotive [$31K Xbus RV emerges as a lovable microbus camper for the electric era]( [ElectricBrands previews its all-electric AWD micro-camper]( ElectricBrands this week revealed its electric Camper, an adorable rig that encapsulates much of the dual-tone flair, simple design and affordable escapism of the beloved VW camper bus. Could the Xbus Camper become a legend of the electric RV age? [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