Weekend Edition: Wavy wounds, a new planet on the block and a banana with a superpower

[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 Medical [New understanding of "wavy wounds" may make for faster post-op healing]( [Members of the research team include (from left to right) PhD student Zhou Quan, Prof. K Jimmy Hsia, PhD student Xu Hongmei and Asst. Prof. Huang Changjin]( For some time now, it has been known that wounds with a zig-zag pattern heal faster than those which form a straight line. Scientists have now determined why this is so, and their findings could change the ways in which surgical incisions are made. [Read more]( Space [New Earth-sized planet discovered, and it may be able to support life]( [An artist's impression of Earth-sized exoplanet LP 791-18d, only 90 light-years away. The gravitational tug of the more massive blue planet in the background may cause internal heating and volcanic eruptions]( A new, Earth-sized planet has been discovered only 90 light-years away. In astronomical terms, that’s right next door. Moreover, it may be capable of supporting life thanks to volcanic eruptions caused by the gravitational tug of a nearby planet. [Read more]( Biology [Genetically modified bananas out to stop Cavendish catastrophe]( [Regulatory appeal: A genetically modified, disease-resistant Cavendish banana plant could soon be commercially approved]( Fusarium fungus once decimated the world’s dominant Gros Michel bananas, so much so that the Cavendish variety became the global go-to. Now, as a new strain threatens its survival, approval of the very first GM Cavendish could prevent "bananageddon." [Read more]( Outdoors [Venturist micro-camper is an affordable gateway to backcountry escape]( [Enjoying camp away from the crowds]( Runaway Campers offers some of the least expensive camping trailers around – all of its models start under US$10K. Its new Venturist XS is both affordable and rugged, a rolling gear garage that can be optioned up into a tiny, tow-anywhere base camp. [Read more]( Architecture [Concrete shelter puts a starchitect spin on emergency housing]( [The Essential Homes Research Project is currently in the prototype stage]( Sir Norman Foster is typically associated with huge projects like supertall skyscrapers, but his latest design sees the architect tackle something much more modest, creating a safe and sturdy shelter for displaced people in collaboration with Holcim. [Read more]( Robotics [Sanctuary rolls out Phoenix, a Carbon-based humanoid AI labor robot]( [Sanctuary AI has debuted Phoenix, it's general-purpose work robot in development]( Canada's Sanctuary AI has revealed a new humanoid robot, shooting for the "world's first human-like intelligence in general purpose robots." Phoenix builds on some very impressive earlier work and a neat "piloted" approach to training. [Read more]( Biology [Magnetic stimulation treats depression by fixing "backwards" brain signals]( [Stanford scientists have uncovered a new mechanism behind depression – and shown how magnetic stimulation can help treat it]( Stanford scientists have found a biological mechanism behind severe depression, and treated it. Signals between two brain regions flow the wrong way in people with depression, but magnetic stimulation reverses them, drastically improving symptoms. [Read more]( Automotive [Polaris unveils new SUV-like 2024 Xpedition overlander]( [Blurring the line between an SUV and an ATV, the Polaris Xpedition is a new overlanding adventure vehicle]( The new Polaris Xpedition is an off-road vehicle that features more interior room for riders and more storage and accessory options. Polaris unveiled it at a virtual event where we gained insight into the company’s plans for this "adventure vehicle." [Read more]( Medical [Genetic mutation linked to delayed onset of rare Alzheimer's]( [Researchers have identified a new genetic mutation in a Colombian man that stalled the symptoms of Alzheimer's for 20 years]( A Colombian man's novel genetic mutation that stalled the symptoms of his rare form of Alzheimer's for 20 years has been identified. The discovery could lead to therapies that boost people’s resilience against the debilitating disease. [Read more]( Space [Webb confirms water in weird comet, but something else is missing]( [An artist's impression of Comet 238P/Read]( The James Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor on an object in the asteroid belt, a region of the solar system where it wasn’t known to survive. The new observations also reveal something unexpectedly missing. [Read more]( Automotive [Street-legal, overgrown Tamiya R/C car will debut this summer]( [A replica of a famous 1980s R/C car, scaled up and fettled for street use and off-roading]( One of the most gloriously silly projects in the automotive world is set to launch within the next few months. The Tamiya Wild One Max is a faithful replica of a hugely popular R/C toy from the '80s, upscaled to a two-seat, street-legal electric buggy. [Read more]( Aircraft [Stratolaunch successfully releases test vehicle ahead of hypersonic flights]( [The TA-0 drops free of the much larger Roc during the test flight]( California aerospace company Stratolaunch has taken a major step closer to the realization of its planned hypersonic flight launch system. Last weekend, the firm successfully released the TA-0 test vehicle from its Roc carrier aircraft. [Read more]( Biology [Evolution experiment yields yeast 20,000x bigger and 10,000x tougher]( [Microscope images of modules of "evolved" yeast with elongated cells, forming larger clusters]( Scientists are conducting a long-term experiment on evolution to investigate how single-celled organisms could evolve into multicellular lifeforms. After thousands of generations, their yeast grew 20,000 times bigger and 10,000 times tougher. [Read more]( Energy [Helion to supply Microsoft with fusion power by 2028, or pay penalties]( [Assembled electromagnetic coils ready for use in Helion's 7th-gen Polaris prototype]( In an outrageously audacious move, Washington-based fusion power startup Helion has signed the world's first fusion power supply deal, promising to deliver Microsoft at least 50 megawatts of clean fusion power by 2028, or pay financial penalties. [Read more]( Space [Biggest cosmic explosion ever seen: 100x the width of our solar system]( [An artist's impression of a quasar, which is the leading hypothesis for the powerful explosion dubbed AT2021lwx]( Astronomers have captured the biggest cosmic explosion ever detected. About 100 times bigger than the solar system and two trillion times brighter than the Sun at its peak, the mysterious miasma has remained visible for three years. [Read more]( Military [OXYJUMP NG makes crazy high-altitude parachute jumps safer]( [Oxyjump automatically adjust oxygen levels during HALO jumps]( Collins Aerospace has come up with a new oxygen system for special forces soldiers making insanely high parachute jumps from up to 33,000 ft that automatically adjusts itself as they plummet at 126 mph for chute openings as low as 3,000 ft. [Read more]( Outdoors [Gerber dual multitool kit sets the table for camping season 2023]( [Taking advantage of the Around Camp Kit ... around camp]( Gerber corrals several of its handy camping tools into the Around Camp Kit. The new-for-2023 package makes it a little easier to stock your camp kitchen or picnic basket, bringing together a pair of handy multitools and a mini-cleaver. [Read more]( Automotive [Solar-charged electric camper van is most road trip-ready American eRV]( [Maxwell first introduced its Vanacea electric camper platform in 2022 and offers it as a complete camper van, van chassis conversion or camper van conversion]( Maxwell Vehicles offers a longer-range e-camper van solution for the US market. Not only does its 250-mile electric camper van double the range of some competitors, it's backed by a full-length solar roof that can add double-digit mileage each day. [Read more]( Automotive [Review: 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage brings back the 60s]( [The Heritage models of the Ford Bronco Sport bring oodles of nostalgia to the SUV's look]( Ford is making 1,966 models of the 2023 Bronco Sport in its Heritage editions. The 1966 number refers to the year the Bronco was introduced. Throwback trim levels for the Bronco Sport include steelie-appearing wheels and nostalgic interior touches. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Elevating bed transforms tiny house interior with the push of a button]( [The Elevate's bed is powered by an electric motor and moves using a pulley system and rails]( Attempting to squeeze a comfortable interior layout into a tiny house is always a challenge. The Elevate, by Acorn Tiny Homes, tackles this by using an elevating bed to create a flexible space that doubles as a light-filled study area and bedroom. [Read more]( Biology [Next-level CRISPR gene editing: No viruses required]( [Researchers have used a nonviral method to increase the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tech and provide a new way to repair DNA]( Modified viruses have proven a handy way to get CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing materials into the nucleus of cells – but they're expensive, difficult to scale and potentially toxic. Now, researchers have found a non-viral approach that does the job better. [Read more]( Aircraft [Archer's first Midnight eVTOL is built and ready to fly]( [The first flight-ready Midnight prototype is complete, and ready to begin testing]( Six months after revealing its production eVTOL air taxi design, Archer Aviation has shown off its first functional Midnight aircraft, with flight tests set to begin in the coming months – and manufacturing has already begun on a conforming prototype. [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