Weekend Edition: A DIY aluminum kayak, mag-lev doors, and a Beetle-sized turtle

[New Atlas logo]( Welcome to our weekly wrap of the best stories to grace the pages of New Atlas over the last seven days. Sit back, relax and enjoy the Weekend Edition. Darren Quick Editor-in-Chief Marine [One-of-a-kind aluminum watercraft is like the DeLorean of kayaks]( [Brennen Kunka in his homebuilt all-aluminum kayak]( Touring kayaks are typically made of plastic, composites or sometimes wood, but unlike canoes, almost never aluminum. That didn't faze Brennen Kunka, however, who recently built his own all-aluminum kayak from the ground up – and it's awesome! [Read more]( Sponsored Content [How to avoid roaming charges and stay connected in India using eSIM]( [If you're traveling to India and don't want a nasty surprise from hefty roaming charges when you get home, check out an eSIM for India from Holafly]( If you're traveling to India and don't want to get a nasty surprise from hefty roaming charges when you return home, check out an eSIM for India from Holafly. Buy online, scan a QR code with your phone and start browsing. No waiting. No paperwork. [Read more]( Around The Home ["Hover Doors" put frictionless mag-lev in your living room]( [Hover Doors floats its doors on permanent magnets for super-low friction and noise]( Your roller doors might be smooth, but they'll never be this smooth. Californian company Hover Doors uses permanent magnets to float heavy sliding doors as if they're mag-lev monorails, for super-quiet, minimal-effort opening and closing. [Read more]( Biology [Scientists discover giant turtle the size of a VW Beetle in Spain]( [An artist's impression of Leviathanochelys aenigmatica, a giant species of turtle that's recently been discovered]( Paleontologists have discovered the fossil remains of one of the largest turtles that ever lived. Measuring about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, it roamed the seas of Europe during the age of the dinosaurs. [Read more]( Medical [Popular anti-inflammatories linked to worse osteoarthritis progression]( [New research has found long-term use of common anti-inflammatory pain relievers did not lead to improvements in inflammatory signs of osteoarthritis]( New data suggests long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, can be associated with hastened progression of osteoarthritis symptoms. The researchers are cautious to stress the link is still observational. [Read more]( Automotive [Praga debuts its savagely beautiful, ultra-lightweight Bohema supercar]( [Praga is returning to the street – but the Bohema is very much a track beast at heart]( While Praga has concerned itself mainly with go-karts, race cars and Dakar trucks in recent years, it made street cars back in 1907. Now it's back with the Bohema, a stunning, lightweight supercar with the 700-horsepower heart of a Nissan GT-R. [Read more]( Bicycles [Nireeka's carbon-fiber Revenant makes 1,000 W and ABS affordable]( [Nireeka is back with a surprisingly affordable, 1000-W carbon-frame commuter e-MTB]( Nireeka is back with another eye-popping (yet impressively affordable) carbon-framed ebike. The Revenant is a 1,000-W, dual-suspension, ABS-equipped commuter/mountain bike designed to replace the popular Homie, with added speed, range and refinement. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [NIH study casts doubts on heart benefits of "good" cholesterol]( [Research, in a racially diverse cohort, found high levels of so-called "good" HDL cholesterol did not correlate with decreased risk of heart attacks]( A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health questions the belief that high levels of "good" cholesterol can decrease a person's risk of heart attack. The findings suggest the assumption may not hold true for people of all racial backgrounds. [Read more]( Science ["Invisible fiber" makes food healthier with no flavor or texture change]( [FibreX promises up to 20% more dietary fiber with no affect on flavor, color or texture]( RMIT researchers claim FiberX can add up to 20% more healthy dietary fiber to food, without any detectable change to its color, texture or taste. Best of all, the team says it can be made from starches that would otherwise be agricultural waste. [Read more]( Space [James Webb captures complete chemical profile of exoplanet atmosphere]( [An artist's impression of the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-39 b, which the James Webb Space Telescope has now analyzed in detail]( The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the most detailed look at an exoplanet atmosphere ever. Studying data from four instruments astronomers compiled a complete molecular and chemical profile of the planet, including signs of active chemistry. [Read more]( Biology [Earth's earliest mass extinction uncovered in fossil record]( [A cast of Dickinsonia, an animal that lived during the Ediacaran period]( It's thought the Earth is currently entering its sixth major extinction event, but a new study suggests it may actually be the seventh. Scientists have found evidence of a previously unknown mass extinction event that struck half a billion years ago. [Read more]( Science [MIT economists: Automation is driving huge increases in wage inequality]( [Self service supermarket checkouts: a perfect example of a type of automation that does nothing much for overall productivity, but directly drives the income equality gap wider by taking money from less educated workers and funneling it up towards business owners]( The gap in wages between the most- and least-educated US citizens has risen sharply in the last 40-odd years, and new research out of MIT finds that more than half of this disparity can be attributed to a single factor: automation. This bodes poorly. [Read more]( Energy [Simpler, cheaper electrical generator can be made with store-bought tape]( [Store-bought double-sided tape is a key ingredient in a promising new triboelectric generator design]( Scientists working on cheap and easy-to-make electrical generators have landed upon a design that makes use of store-bought double-sided tape, and which they say can perform on par with more complex systems when it comes to producing electricity. [Read more]( Outdoors [Tow-anywhere Bruder off-road camper trailer goes stealth]( [Bruder's new Stealth trailers show a blacked-out exterior look and pack on an upgraded standard features package]( Few camper trailers we've looked at over the years are as insanely overbuilt and impressively equipped as the Bruder EXP series from Down Under. With the new Stealth, all EXP trailers can now get even more power, convenience and off-road capability. [Read more]( Energy [Hybrid ultracap battery promises 72-second city EV charging]( [Morand's eTechnology storage relies on hybrid ultracapacitor cells from fellow Swiss company Sech SA]( A new electric energy storage solution from Morand could offer electric city car charging times that undercut gas fill-ups. Its eTechnology hybrid batteries also offer the possibility of much longer battery lifespan. [Read more]( Architecture [Eye-catching exterior shades Texas' new tallest skyscraper]( [The Wilson Tower will rise to a height of 1,035 ft (315 m), making it the tallest skyscraper in Texas]( The HKS-designed Wilson Tower will rise to a height of 1,035 ft, making it the tallest skyscraper in Texas. It will be defined by an interesting exterior design with a brise soleil that's meant to protect it from the area's harsh sun and wind. [Read more]( Good Thinking [Wave-powered buoys vastly reduce the ecological cost of desalination]( [Oneka's Iceberg-class desalination buoy draws zero power from the grid, and pumps up to 13,000 gallons of fresh water back to land per day with minimal ecological impact]( This remarkable desalination device, made from recycled plastic bottles, floats in the ocean and runs on wave power, creating up to 13,000 gallons (53,000 liters) of fresh water a day – and discharging far less toxic brine than other designs. [Read more]( Military [AI-driven combat drone can search buildings and execute suicide attacks]( [A lethal search, map and destroy combat drone capable of operating autonomously, either alone or in swarms]( Israeli defence tech company Elbit Systems has launched a lethal, autonomous suicide drone. The Lanius is an agile racing quad with a range of AI-powered scouting, mapping and target classification abilities, and the ability to explode when required. [Read more]( Robotics [Swimming robot performs butterfly to move with unmatched speed]( [A soft robot that mimics butterfly stroke in humans can swim with unparalleled speed]( Scientists regularly draw ideas from the natural world in a bid to improve robotic performance, and the latest creation in this space is a soft robot that mimics butterfly stroke in humans to move through the water with unparalleled speed. [Read more]( Biology [Hemp-fed cows get high and produce THC-laced milk]( [Researchers detected levels of THC in milk from dairy cows fed with hemp]( New research has reported on the consequences of feeding dairy cows commercial hemp. Despite the hemp containing negligible levels of psychoactive THC the researchers detected significant behavioral changes in the animals and levels of THC in their milk. [Read more]( Military [Invasion of Ukraine shows artillery still rules the battlefield]( [A Ukrainian 2S7 Pion heavy artillery piece]( The ongoing war in Ukraine is rewriting the playbook on infantry tactics and strategy in a paradoxical way as the conflict has devolved from high-tech 21st century warfare into an old-fashioned artillery duel. [Read more]( Outdoors [Bundu Trail camper is a modern, electric-lift chuckwagon you sleep in]( [Bundutec Bundu]( Bundutec combines several of its existing overland camping products into the unique BunduTrail camper trailer. The compact towable shadows the vehicle like a cargo trailer but expands into a complete living space with help from a powered pop-up roof. [Read more]( Automotive [The Porsche 911 is now a Dakar-inspired off-roader, roof tent optional]( [Porsche 911 Dakar prototype testing]( Decades after winning the Dakar Rally with a 911 in 1984, Porsche gives the average buyer the opportunity to rally a 911. The 911 Dakar debuts as a high-riding, road-legal 911 sports off-roader that will hit the market in 2023. [Read more]( Automotive [Toyota unveils new Prius models and they are ... cool?]( [Built on a second generation of the TNGA platform, the fifth-generation Prius is actually nice to look at]( The Toyota Prius was introduced over 25 years ago and quickly became the synonym for "hybrid" – and often for ugly design as well. Now Toyota has unveiled the fifth generation of the car, and it's actually quite impressive. [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