MIT's Mars oxygen factory is now matching the output of a small tree

[New Atlas logo]( Space [MIT's Mars oxygen factory is now matching the output of a small tree]( [Artist's concept of the Perseverance rover, which has the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment aboard]( If humans are to one day survive and thrive on Mars, ready access to breathable oxygen will be a necessity, and an interesting technology sent along with the Perseverance rover is beginning to show exciting promise on this front. [Read more]( Science [Researchers discover new way fat cells talk directly with the brain]( [A new imaging method discovered sensory neurons that communicate directly with the brain branch off from the spine into fat tissue]( An incredible new study has discovered a novel communication pathway between fat cells and the brain. The findings reveal that the brain can directly send messages to fat tissue and influence metabolic processes. [Read more]( Mobile Technology [Sony crams flagship camera tech in latest premium compact]( [Sony says that many of the features found in its flagship smartphone have trickled down into the Xperia 5 IV premium compact]( Sony has opened the pre-order books for the Xperia 5 IV premium compact smartphone, a content-creation powerhouse that features a bunch of tech trickled down from the company's 2022 flagship, the Xperia 1 IV. [Read more]( Environment [Permafrost thaw seems to be draining Arctic lakes at an accelerated rate]( [A drying Arctic lake viewed from above]( Scientists studying the lake systems of the Arctic lowlands have made a surprising discovery, tapping into satellite data to find that these bodies of water are drying up and vanishing much faster than predicted. [Read more]( Architecture [Top architects join forces for eye-catching airport extension]( [The Changi Airport Terminal 5 is expected to be complete in the mid-2030s]( Singapore's Changi Airport is already notable as the site of the world's largest indoor waterfall but now Heatherwick Studio and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates have joined forces to extend it with an eye-catching new terminal. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Omicron COVID vaccine booster authorized in US, roll-out begins in days]( [A booster dose, targeting Omicron subtypes BA.4 and 5, is expected to be available in the US as early as next week]( The FDA has authorized new mRNA booster shots targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. The authorization marks the first updated COVID-19 vaccines to be made available in the US since the original vaccines became available in late 2020. [Read more]( Outdoors [Siren X-1 actioncam shoots fishing action in two directions at once]( [Equipped with its included fishing-line mount, the Siren X-1 reportedly weighs 469 g (16. 5 oz)]( There are now a number of actioncams that can be attached to a fishing line, where they shoot video of fish being reeled in. The dual-camera waterproof Siren X-1 takes things further, as it shoots both down into the water and up towards the angler. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Cheap and cheerful Potting Shed wins 2022 Shed of the Year]( [Kelly Haworth, from Bury, Lancashire, has been crowned the 2022 Cuprinol Shed of the Year winner for The Potting Shed]( The winner of 2022's Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition has been announced. Lancashire-based sheddie Kelly Howarth has received the top prize for her low-budget creation The Potting Shed, which is primarily built from doors and wooden pallets. [Read more]( Pets [Georgia Tech system promises camera-free in-home pet tracking]( [The PetTrack system continuously monitors a pet's location relative to radio transceivers placed around the home]( While many dog (or cat) owners would like to know what their pet does all day while left home alone, they don't necessarily want a bunch of cameras placed inside their house. The PetTrack system offers a less intrusive alternative, as it keeps tabs on pets via radio signals. [Read more]( Music [JBL's latest earbuds come in a charging case with a touch display]( [JBL has introduced new earbuds with what it says is the world's first smart charging case]( JBL has plonked a new pair of buds into the wireless listening pond with an interesting point of difference, arriving inside what's billed as the world's first smart charging case to place extra functionality at your fingertips. [Read more]( Materials [New process converts old PLA plastic into a better 3D-printing resin]( [Examples of objects printed from the PLA-derived resin]( Although polylactic acid bioplastic is known for its biodegradability, it can take a long time to degrade if the conditions aren't right. Washington State University scientists have therefore devised a way of upcycling it into a 3D-printing resin. [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