Weekend Edition: Rooftop wind power, gamma ray bursts and a "nearby" black hole

[New Atlas logo]( In recent years, rooftop solar panels have become a familiar sight on rooftops all over the world, but a US-based company has developed a rooftop wind generator it claims can deliver more renewable energy bang for you buck. This week we also learn about the most powerful gamma ray burst ever detected that swept over the Earth recently, and the discovery of a “monster” black hole that may be the closest to our planet ever found. Those stories and more in our Weekend Edition. Darren Quick Editor-in-Chief Energy [Rooftop wind system delivers 150% the energy of solar per dollar]( [(rendered image) Aeromine says its "motionless" rooftop wind energy units deliver 150% as much energy for the money as solar panels, while taking up 10% of the roof space]( Aeromine says its unique "motionless" rooftop wind generators deliver up to 50% more energy than a solar array of the same price, while taking up just 10% of the roof space and operating more or less silently. In independent tests, they seem legit. [Read more]( Space [Extremely powerful gamma ray burst sweeps across Earth]( [An illustration of a gamma ray burst]( Gamma ray bursts are the most energetic explosions since the Big Bang – and now astronomers have detected the most powerful one yet. A beam of high-energy radiation up to 18 times more powerful than the previous record swept over Earth last weekend. [Read more]( Space ["Monster" black hole may be the closest to Earth found so far]( [An artist's impression of a black hole]( Astronomers may have discovered a monster black hole that’s one of the closest to Earth known. With a mass equivalent to 12 Suns, the black hole was found to be quietly lurking “practically in our backyard,” according to the team. [Read more]( Science [Researchers grow high-potency medicinal "zombie fungus" in the lab]( [Lab-grown cordyceps, such as that in most cheap supplements sold today, has very low levels of cordycepin, say Korean researchers who have found a way to supercharge production of this key compound]( The Cordyceps fungus has evolved a terrifying ability to hijack the bodies of insects – but it's also being studied for an impressive range of potential medicinal effects. Researchers have found a way to boost production of its key chemical by 100x. [Read more]( Outdoors [GoCamp ebike micro-camper might be greenest solar RV out there]( [The GoCamp makes a cozy workspace, lounge and overnight shelter for its rider]( Instead of making a caravan to tow via bicycle, Flevobike integrates ebike and camper together, creating an ingenious pickup camper-like pedaled micro-RV. The tiny electric camper includes a solar charging system for off-grid camp and e-drive power. [Read more]( Science [Fatty acids on the skin explain why some people are "mosquito magnets"]( [A new study has put forward an explanation for why some people seem to be mosquito magnets]( Scientists have studied what makes mosquitoes more attracted to some humans over others, and uncovered strong association between being a so-called mosquito magnet and elevated levels of a fatty acids on the skin. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [New evidence linking gut bacteria with rheumatoid arthritis development]( [New research speculates immune antibodies targeting a gut bacteria protein could play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis]( A new study has provided more evidence gut bacteria plays a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The research suggests an abnormal immune response to a common species of gut bacteria could influence the development of the disease. [Read more]( Medical [Homing missile molecule eradicates even advanced cancers in mice]( [A new cancer treatment pairs an acidity-seeking molecule with an immunotherapy drug]( Researchers have demonstrated a new technique to fight cancer by attaching immunotherapy drugs to a molecule that seeks out the acidic environment of cancer cells. In tests in mice, a single dose was enough to eradicate even advanced tumors. [Read more]( Energy [Caltech's space solar project prepares for its first orbital prototype]( [An ultra-lightweight prototype space solar "tile" capable of collecting solar energy, converting it to radio frequency energy and transmitting it wirelessly over distance]( Caltech's wildly ambitious space solar project, buoyed by a massive hundred-million-dollar donation, is preparing to launch its first prototypes into orbit. These cutting-edge ultralight structures will collect, convert and wirelessly send energy. [Read more]( Aircraft [Honda Aviation unveils fuel-efficient HondaJet Elite II business jet]( [The HondaJet Elite II]( Honda Aircraft's stable of light business jets is one airframe bigger after the company introduced its HondaJet Elite II at the 2022 National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. [Read more]( Architecture [Rammed earth family home built for under $80K in Mexico]( [Santerra House is located in El Porvenir, in the center of Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's popular wine region]( Architectural studio Parma Arquitectura has recently created the ideal desert-proof tiny home. Santerra House boasts a rammed earth and burnt timber shell, resembling the soft shades of sandstone and the surrounding landscape. [Read more]( Mobile Technology [Apple unveils "completely redesigned" iPad and "supercharged" iPad Pro]( [Pricing for the new iPad starts at US$449, with the iPad Pro (pictured here with the optional Magic Keyboard Folio) going for a minimum of $799]( While some new versions of existing devices really just offer a few new features, Apple states that the just-announced 10th-Gen version of the iPad has been completely redesigned. The company has also unveiled a "supercharged" 6th-Gen iPad Pro. [Read more]( Medical [Infrared implant between skin and skull helps kill brain cancer]( [Stanford scientists have developed a wireless implantable device that can fight brain cancer by heating nanoparticles]( Brain cancer is one of the most insidious forms of the disease, but a new wireless device could help improve survival times. When implanted between the skin and skull, the device uses infrared to heat up gold nanoparticles to kill cancer from within. [Read more]( Energy [New electrode wastes no space to offer EV batteries a 25% density boost]( [Scientists have demonstrated a new electrode design that could propel electric vehicles farther on each charge]( Scientists tinkering with commonly used battery materials have come up with a way of tweaking their microstructures to improve energy density, pointing the way to electric vehicles that can travel farther on each charge. [Read more]( Energy [Giant, megawatt-scale wave energy generator to be tested in Scotland]( [This massive OE35 wave energy generator was built in an Oregon shipyard and towed out to Hawaii for testing]( Irish company OceanEnergy has already tested its oscillating water column generators at significant scale in Hawaii, and it's just signed on to a four-year project to test, validate and commercialize its biggest unit yet off Orkney, in Scotland. [Read more]( Outdoors [Screwpop's magnetic Toolkey packs the functionality of 15 tools]( [The Toolkey is equipped with a neodymium magnet for extra storage options]( A key is something nearly everyone can imagine lugging around without too much trouble, and Screwpop’s newly launched Toolkey follows this thinking to offer 15-in-1 functionality from a lightweight and familiar package. [Read more]( Medical [Arthritis drug boosts fat-signaling and counters diabetes in obese mice]( [An approved arthritis drug has shown promise in tackling diabetes and obesity in early mouse studies]( Scientists studying the activity of a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have discovered some surprising metabolic functions, some of which may be useful when it comes to countering diabetes and obesity. [Read more]( Science [CDC modeling reports new Omicron BQ variants rapidly spreading in US]( [The CDC estimates BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 account for at least 10 percent of new infections in the United States]( New modeling from the CDC estimates Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 now account for over 10% of all infections in the US. Scientists predict these rapidly spreading variants will drive a new wave of infections in the country over the coming months. [Read more]( Motorcycles [Ducati's latest street-legal superbike makes more than 240 horsepower]( [Extra, extra! 240 horsepower is enough to make wheelie!]( Yank Ducati's new Panigale V4 R out of its crate, replace the purely ornamental standard exhaust with a titanium Akrapovic race pipe and fill it up with a fancy "performance oil" from Shell, and you're sitting on a machine capable of 240.5 horsepower. [Read more]( Science [Studies uncover anti-inflammatory role of pain-sensing gut neurons]( [Two studies uncovered new ways pain-sensing neurons in the gut can trigger processes that protect from inflammation]( Two new studies in the journal Cell have reported on unexpected ways pain-sensing neurons in the gut can serve as more than just sensory alarm systems. The research suggests these neurons also can directly protect the gut from inflammatory damage. [Read more]( Automotive [$1-mil RV overlands like voracious wildcat, camps like purring kitty]( [The Action Mobil Global XRS 7400 adds an extra 6.6 feet of camper length compared to the XRS 7200 we looked at in 2014]( The latest off-road RV build from Action Mobil is one of the company's fiercest yet. But after six-wheeling proficiently over dirt, rock, mud and snow, it softens into an off-grid homestead so hospitable it pings you when the laundry is done. [Read more]( Outdoors [Inov-8's new graphene trail running shoe literally nitro-boosts feet]( [Inov-8's new nitrogen- and graphene-infused trail runner is designed to offer a light, soft ride and boosted energy return]( For a few years now, Inov-8 has been focusing in on graphene for its trail running shoes. Now it mixes a little nitrogen into the formula. The nitrogen-injected foam adds a light, soft ride and a response so reactive it almost feels like cheating. [Read more]( Marine [Amphibious electric 3-wheeler will drive, float and hydrofoil]( [Electric reverse trike meets hydrofoiling boat in the Poseidon LS-1 amphibious vehicle]( Florida company Poseidon Amphibworks is raising money toward a prototype of its Trident LS-1. This electric, AWD three-wheeler will be capable of highway speeds on land, and it'll extend its range capabilities in the water using low-drag hydrofoils. 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