Weekend Edition: A horsey helper, a drone swarm destroyer and a potential fat converter

[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 Sports [Kurtsystems: A kinder way to do a cruel job?]( [Kurtsystems: neither a rollercoaster for horses, nor a dystopian hover-chariot]( Sadly, this is not a rollercoaster for horses. And despite its dystopian hover-chariot looks, it's actually designed to be a kinder and safer way to prepare young horses for the often-damaging shock of beginning a race training program. [Read more]( Military [THOR microwave weapon hammers drone swarms in demo test]( [THOR set up for field testing]( Drones are becoming a mainstay in modern warfare. Now, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has countered the emerging threat of drone swarms, using the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR) to take out multiple targets. [Read more]( Science [New weapon found in fight to combat obesity, diabetes]( [Researchers are hoping this is the first step in finding novel ways to burn excess fat, which can increases the risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes]( Bad news, there's no magic pill for weight loss just yet. The good news? Scientists have uncovered the workings of a protein that triggers calorie burning in brown fat, and they believe it gets us one step closer to being able to 'switch on' fat loss. [Read more]( Pets [Dog personality determined by much more than breed, study finds]( [A study has found that a dog's personality is determined by more than breed, environmental factors also play an important role]( Often, the decision to get a Rottweiler over a Chihuahua is made based on personality. A new study has found that while the breed is an important factor, a dog’s personality is determined by a complex interaction between genetics and environment. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Not so sweet: Chemical in common artificial sweetener found to damage DNA]( [A new study has found that a chemical found in a widely available artificial sweetener can damage our DNA]( A new study has found that consuming a widely available artificial sweetener produces a chemical that is damaging to DNA. The findings raise concerns about whether the sweetener is a contributing factor to a number of health problems. [Read more]( Automotive [Aston Martin's DB12 smells like success]( [The DB12 runs a 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 engine, giving it a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 3.5 seconds and a 202 mph (325 km/h) top speed – the hand-built engine delivers 680PS/671bhp at 6,000 rpm and 800 Nm/590 lb ft between 2,750 rpm and 6,000 rpm; an increase of 34% compared to the DB11 it replaces]( George Bernard Shaw once characterized fashion as "an induced epidemic," and the launch of Aston Martin’s new DB12 at a showbiz party on the Côte d'Azur this week was a masterclass in conjuring a mass outbreak of desire for the new "super tourer." [Read more]( Aircraft [Bombardier moves to second prototype of its blended-wing Ecojet]( [The Ecojet aims to cut flight emissions by 50% with a blended-wing fuselage designed to contribute lift]( Bombardier says it's stepping up prototype testing on its blended-wing Ecojet project, aiming to use its lift-generating fuselage, low-drag wingspan and propulsion advances to heavily reduce fuel burn and cut emissions in half. [Read more]( Biology [Genetic study reveals why Scottish woman feels no pain, heals faster]( [Scientists have investigated the genetic mechanisms behind a mutation that allows a Scottish woman to feel almost no pain]( Scottish woman Jo Cameron is a medical marvel who feels little pain, fear or anxiety, and had faster wound healing, thanks to a specific gene mutation. Now, scientists have studied why in more detail, in the hopes of unlocking future drug targets. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [How what you eat affects the depth of your slumber]( [A new study has found that what you eat can affect the quality of your sleep]( Good sleep and good nutrition are the cornerstones of good health. We know how diet can affect general health, but what effect does what we eat have on how well we sleep? A new study has looked at how diet can directly affect sleep quality. [Read more]( Space [New findings suggest hundreds of millions of planets may harbor life]( [New data suggests there could be millions of planets with gentle-enough orbits around their stars to sustain life]( While two thirds of exoplanets may be a fiery, boiling wasteland, scientists believe the other third occupy a "just right" goldilocks orbit around their star, and this, much like Earth's orbit, could provide the right environmental support for life. [Read more]( Energy [New coating covers perovskite solar cells' last Achilles heel]( [A new coating helps protect perovskite from the elements, allowing it to keep its efficiency high for longer]( Perovskite is quickly gaining on silicon in the solar cell field, but it has one major drawback – durability. Now, a new treatment has been shown to keep perovskite solar cells working at 99% of their efficiency after 1,000 hours of use. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [A poor diet may fuel age-related memory loss, but you can reverse it]( We all know fruit and vegetables are good for our overall health. But in a first-of-its-kind multi-year study, researchers have shown that flavanols found in these foods are tied to brain function, and a deficiency may drive age-related memory loss. [Read more]( Computers [Nvidia unveils AI supercomputer that will put you out of a job much faster]( [Nvidia has unveiled the DGX GH200 AI supercomputer, which will be capable of up to 1 exaflop of performance]( While AI systems amaze and alarm the world in equal measure, they’re about to get even more powerful. Nvidia has announced a new class of supercomputer that will train the next generation of AI models, and put us all out of work far faster. [Read more]( Drones [Hover Camera X1 drone can be used without an app or a remote]( [The Hover Camera X1 drone is presently on Indiegogo]( Perhaps you like the idea of using a drone to take selfies, but you don't want a big, expensive quadcopter. That's where ZeroZero Robotics' Hover Camera drone comes in, and the latest version – the X1 – is claimed to be easier than ever to use. [Read more]( Medical [New molecule chops up RNA of "undruggable" common cancer-causing gene]( [A new molecule has been found to successfully degrade the RNA of a common cancer-causing gene thought to be "undruggable"]( A gene called MYC is implicated in the majority of cancers, but unfortunately it’s often considered “undruggable.” In a new study scientists have developed a molecule that chops up the RNA of this gene, effectively clearing cancer in mice. [Read more]( Outdoors [Scout shrinks its lightweight pickup camper down to Ford Maverick size]( [The new Scout Tuktut is sized and weighted to fit the Ford Maverick small pickup]( Scout Campers is back with its smallest, lightest camper yet. The all-new Tuktut is designed to fit compact and midsize pickups, including the Ford Maverick. Buyers can keep it cheap and simple or build it up with modular accessories. [Read more]( Automotive [Pictorial: The breathtaking cars of Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023]( [In winning the Trofeo BMW Group for Best of Show at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023, this 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster with coachwork by Gurney Nutting booked itself a place in the final of the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award - the defacto world championship for concours cars. The car is spectacular in images, but it is difficult to comprehend the sheer presence and distorted scale of the behemoth - we suggest a look through the image gallery to grasp the opulence of this land-based leviathan.]( An American car has won the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the world's oldest and most traditional automotive concours. [Read more]( Science [Wealthy ancient Romans may have smelled like 20th-century hippies]( [Sideways crystal container on black background with a ruler running along the bottom edge]( Archeologists are great at determining what life looked like in ancient days, but not necessarily how it smelled. Now, though, a 2,000-year-old crystal container has shed light on the scent you might have encountered on the streets of ancient Rome. [Read more]( Marine [Inflatable motorized GoBoat packs down into a carry bag]( [The GoBoat 2.0 is reported to offer improved performance, stability, and packability compared to the first model]( Way back in 2016, GoBoat introduced an odd-looking boating craft that sat the single occupant in the middle of a huge inflatable ring, and could be collapsed down for transport on land. Now the company has launched the much-improved Gen 2.0 PWC. [Read more]( Architecture [Tree-covered tower's lush exterior equivalent to 2.5 acres of forest]( [The Wonderwoods Vertical Forest is expected to be completed in mid-2024]( Stefano Boeri Architetti's Wonderwoods Vertical Forest is nearing completion in the Netherlands. The tower will be covered in thousands of plants and hundreds of trees, which the firm says is equal to around 2.5 acres of forest. [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