Weekend Edition: Life-extending reboot, bladeless aircraft, and acrobatic Atlas

[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. Biology [Epigenetic "reboot" reverses aging in mice and could extend lifespan]( [Two mice of the same age, but the mouse on the right has undergone an epigenetic experiment that accelerates its aging. Luckily, this process can also be reversed, according to new work]( Harvard scientists have investigated why we age, and how we could stop it. In tests in mice, the team showed that epigenetic “software glitches” drive the symptoms of aging – and a system reboot can reverse them, potentially extending lifespan. [Read more]( Aircraft [Jetoptera targets Mach 0.8 with bladeless-propulsion VTOL aircraft]( [An early model airframe featuring Jetoptera's fluidic propulsion system in wind tunnel testing]( Like bladeless Dyson fans on steroids, Jetoptera's unique aircraft propulsion systems look like pure sci-fi. But they're beginning to demonstrate some fascinating capabilities in testing, and the next step will be a super-fast VTOL aircraft design. [Read more]( Robotics [Atlas robot takes a major leap in perception and object manipulation]( [Boston Dynamics has taken its Atlas robot a step closer to flexible, real-world utility with the ability to perceive and manipulate its environment in interesting ways. It can also do a sick new flip.]( Boston Dynamics continues to astound us with progress on Atlas, its humanoid robot. In a new video, Atlas goes to work on a construction site, showing off some fascinating new abilities, spiced up with some acrobatics that'd get most of us sacked. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [For weight loss, how much you eat is more important than when you eat]( [Research findings indicate smaller meals and eating less frequently are more important to losing weight than the time of day one eats]( A study following the eating habits of 500 people found weight change is most affected by the size and frequency of meals rather than the interval from first to last meal. The study challenges the belief intermittent fasting is a useful weight loss tool. [Read more]( Automotive [Winnebago goes all-modular with Sprinter "Adventure Wagon" camper van]( [Winnebago sneaks a peek at the Winnebago + Adventure Wagon camper van ... against a backdrop of the prickliest, most uncomfortable-looking patch of desert we've seen in advertising]( Winnebago's latest camper van is its most flexible yet thanks to a partnership with Adventure Wagon. Each component in the limited edition van is removable, creating a Sprinter that hauls work tools every day and supports long holiday adventures. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Buddhist monk microbiome study reveals impact of meditation on gut bacteria]( [A new study is the first to investigate the gut microbiomes of meditating Tibetan Buddhist monks]( In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have trekked to remote Tibetan Buddhist temples to study the gut microbiomes of meditating monks. The findings suggest the long-term practice of deep meditation could positively impact gut bacteria composition. [Read more]( Around The Home [Bioengineered "superplant" could soon be purifying the air in your home]( [Once the Neo P1 is commercially available, pricing will start at $179]( We've all heard how it's a good idea to have plants in your home, as they purify the air. Well, the bioengineered Neo P1 is said to excel in that department, as it's reportedly equivalent to up to 30 regular houseplants in terms of air purification. [Read more]( Outdoors [Jackery's inflatable LightTent-AIR features its own solar power system]( [The LightTent-AIR could be commercially available within about two years]( There are currently quite a few stand-alone solar power systems designed for use by campers. US portable energy company Jackery has taken a more consolidated approach, however, as its LightTent-AIR tent comes with such a system already built in. [Read more]( Drones [World's fastest quadcopter sets official Guinness speed record]( [Ryan Lademann, left, and friends who came to witness the XLR V3's Guinness-World-Record-setting flight]( Racing quadcopters are insanely light, quick and agile, but they're not typically known for their top-speed figures. Mechanical engineer and hobbyist Ryan Lademann builds his own frames to push the limits, and he's now bagged a Guinness World Record. [Read more]( Automotive [World's first ammonia-electric semi packs as much energy as the Tesla]( [Amogy has presented "the world's first ammonia-powered, zero-emissions semi truck"]( Claiming a system-level energy density 5X higher than batteries, Amogy has rolled out "the world's first ammonia-powered, zero-emission semi truck." It holds about 900 kWh of energy, like the Tesla Semi, but you can refuel it in about eight minutes. [Read more]( Medical [Clinical trial shows probiotic could prevent dangerous superbug infection]( [Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a dangerous pathogen, but a new clinical trial has found that probiotics could help prevent infection]( Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium in humans, but it can turn nasty. A new clinical trial has shown that a probiotic can selectively cut populations of the bug in humans, reducing the risk of infection without the hazards of antibiotics. [Read more]( Automotive [Winnebago eRV2 is a US electric camper van that off-grids for 7 days]( [Winnebago reveals its second all-electric camper van prototype, the eRV2]( Winnebago breaks out of the gate early, detailing its new eRV2 ahead of its official debut on Wednesday. The updated e-camper van prototype switches to a Ford E-Transit chassis and relies on a 15-kWh battery to power camp for up to 7 days. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [First truly wireless TV sticks to walls, has zero ports and no remote]( [Displace TVs can be placed throughout the house or combined to make one large screen]( At CES 2023, Displace showed how its futuristic, battery-powered 55-inch 4K TV utilizes a special pop-up camera to recognize gesture controls and a proprietary active-loop vacuum seal to adhere itself to walls. [Read more]( Space [Long-lost invisible stellar graveyard revealed by radio telescope duo]( [A combined image of data from the Parkes and ASKAP radio telescopes reveals new supernova remnants previously unseen]( Models of the universe predict that supernova remnants should be far more common than they are. Now, a new image from sensitive radio telescopes reveal that the missing remnants are hiding in plain sight. [Read more]( Science [Scientists guide lightning bolts with laser beams for first time]( [The Laser Lightning Rod is beamed near the top of a tower on the summit of Säntis, in the Swiss Alps]( Scientists have demonstrated a more advanced lightning rod than a humble metal stick. Beaming a high-powered laser into the sky was shown to deflect lightning bolts, enabling laser lightning rods that protect a wider area from dangerous strikes. [Read more]( Military [Ukraine to get Patriot missiles. Is this a game changer?]( [Patriot missile launching]( In a remarkable shift in policy, the United States announced on December 21, 2022 that it was supplying Ukraine with the Patriot Missile System to aid in its fight against Russia. Does this mark a major shift in the war? New Atlas takes a look. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Rollkers put a motorized moving sidewalk under your feet]( [Rollkers should sell for around $700 a pair]( Admit it – when you walk on one of those "moving sidewalks" at an airport, you like to pretend that you're easily able to stroll at superhuman speeds. Well, Rollkers are designed to give you that same sensation, as you walk down city streets. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Tiny house maximizes limited space with smart interior layout]( [The Ræv's living room includes a large sofa bed and a dining table, with a very small wood-burning stove for heat]( Given it had a length of just 20 ft to work with, Baluchon managed to squeeze some impressive features into its latest model. The light-filled tiny house includes a netted loft area, lots of storage space, and a well-stocked kitchen. [Read more]( Music [Sony launches pleasantly affordable high-resolution Walkman]( [Sony gives high-end audio a (relatively) affordable price tag with the launch of the Walkman NW-306]( There's often quite a price premium for folks who opt for hi-res portable audio. Indeed, the company who kicked off personal groove machines has been known to charge a small fortune – which makes the latest Walkman something of a pleasant surprise. [Read more]( Space [James Webb confirms its first exoplanet – a nearby Earth-sized world]( [An artist's impression of the James Webb Space Telescope]( The James Webb Space Telescope has been used to confirm the existence of an exoplanet for the first time. Known as LHS 475 b, this Earth-sized world is a cosmic stone’s-throw away and is likely the first of many planet discoveries by Webb. [Read more]( Energy [Wind turbine as tall as a 70-story building announced in China]( [Wind turbines just keep getting bigger – the new king of the playground will rise out of the ocean higher than a 70-story building]( Extreme engineering is becoming the norm as offshore wind continues to scale up. Sweeping the area of 12.3 standard NFL fields each rotation, with gargantuan 140-meter (459-ft) blades, the MySE 18.X-28X will be the largest wind turbine ever built. [Read more]( Outdoors [Sasquatch off-road camper trailer is as stealthy and burly as namesake]( [Sasquatch Highland 60 expedition camper trailer]( Startup Sasquatch Expedition Campers has made its intentions very clear, launching two of the gnarliest off-road trailers of 2022. The Highland 60 is the flagship, an unassuming hunk of metal that looks like a gear hauler but lives like a teardrop. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Lectric launches XP Trike featuring novel single hub rear drive]( [The XP Trike features a single-speed drivetrain, a 500-W hub motor and 60-mile battery]( Not every bike rider is able to join the two-wheel pedal-assist revolution, and Arizona's wallet-friendly ebike maker Lectric has responded to folks looking for the improved stability offered by a third wheel with the launch of the XP Trike. [Read more]( Materials [Largest rare earths deposit in European history found in Sweden]( [Europe's largest rare earth minerals deposit ever has been found in Sweden]( Swedish government-owned mining company LKAB has reported the largest deposit of rare earth metals ever discovered in Europe – more than a million tonnes of rare earth oxides, which will be invaluable in the race toward decarbonization. [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