Weekend Edition: A colossal creature, chargeable concrete & a juiced-up laser weapon

[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 Architecture [Low-cost additive turns concrete slabs into super-fast energy storage]( [Cement and water, with a small amount of carbon black mixed in, self-assembles into fractal branches of conductive electrodes, turning concrete into an energy-storing supercapacitor]( MIT researchers have discovered that when you mix cement and carbon black with water, the resulting concrete self-assembles into an energy-storing supercapacitor that can put out enough juice to power a home or fast-charge electric cars. [Read more]( Biology [Colossal new species may be largest animal that ever existed]( [An artist's impression of Perucetus colossus, a newly discovered ancient whale species that may now be the largest animal that ever existed]( The blue whale has long been considered the largest animal to have ever existed, even dwarfing the biggest known dinosaurs. But now a new species threatens to steal the crown, and upends what we thought we knew about whale evolution. [Read more]( Military [Lockheed Martin juices up its laser weapon to half a megawatt]( [Laser weapons can be used on a wide range of platforms]( Lockheed Martin is raising the bar on its 300-kW laser weapon system, announcing it is scaling it up to 500 kW under a new contract from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD (R&E)). [Read more]( Space [Longshot targets $10/kg launch costs with Nazi uber-cannon on steroids]( [Longshot is planning a six-mile multi-stage pneumatic accelerating cannon that'll fire projectiles into orbit from ground level at hypersonic muzzle velocities over Mach 30]( Rockets are expensive, so a number of kinetic launch startups are working on ways to simply yeet payloads into orbit and bring costs down. This one's very fun – a six-mile-long concrete cannon that'll squeeze launch vehicles to Mach 30 in one second. [Read more]( Medical [First-of-its-kind cancer drug targets mechanism that causes metastasis]( [Researchers have developed an monoclonal antibody drug that targets the process that causes cancer cells to spread in the body]( Metastatic cancer accounts for up to 90% of all cancer deaths in the US annually. Now, researchers have trialed a first-of-its-kind monoclonal antibody drug that inhibits the process by which cancer cells spread, and results are promising. [Read more]( Automotive [Toyota Land Cruiser rises from the grave as cheaper, true-to-roots 4x4]( [Toyota digs up the Land Cruiser's roots with the all-new 250 Series]( Toyota canceled the US Land Cruiser after MY2021, leaving the market without one of the world's most iconic off-roaders. Now, the Land Cruiser is back with a purpose, bringing a chiseled body, ruggedized underpinnings and more affordable price tag. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Eye-catching Quadvelo is like the lovechild of a car and an ebike]( [Unlike a car, the Quadvelo requires no insurance or vehicles taxes]( While many folks are firmly in favor of forgoing a big gas-guzzling car, they still want something more capable and substantial than a plain ol' ebike. The four-wheeled Quadvelo was designed to nicely fill that niche. [Read more]( Outdoors [Flounder pendant hangs multiple titanium tools around its user's neck]( [The Flounder multitool is presently on Kickstarter]( A lot of people wear religious symbols or other charms around their neck as an expression of their core values. Well, if you have strong feelings about outdoor gear, the Flounder Titanium Multitool Pendant may be the accessory you're looking for. [Read more]( Biology [Scientists give nature a nudge, training native species to hunt invaders]( [Rat-atouille: Scientists are helping these little native omnivores evolve their food selection]( In a twist on using animals as biological control, a method that in the past has often had disastrous outcomes for native wildlife, scientists have successfully trained native bush rats to actively seek out a new food source they’ve never seen before. [Read more]( Automotive [Pininfarina Pura Vision tests the limits of the SUV-coupe craze]( [The dramatic combination of front, wing and coach doors and lack of pillars provides very clean ingress and egress]( The SUV coupe has been one of the more ambitious body styles aided along by electric vehicle tech. Automobili Pininfarina steps in and does its best to push the sporty SUV concept to new heights while giving it ultra-premium levels of luxury. [Read more]( Photography [Canon's new camera shoots color video in pitch black, from miles away]( [Canon's new MS-500 puts the company's groundbreaking new ultra-sensitive SPAD sensor into a commercial video camera]( Canon has wrapped its experimental ultra-high sensitivity Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor up into a world-first commercial product. The new MS-500 accepts ultra-telephoto broadcast lenses, and can shoot color video on a moonless night. [Read more]( Medical [Pecans pack a punch in fighting obesity, diabetes and inflammation]( [Heroes in a full shell: Researchers have uncovered more about the health benefits of pecans]( A case is being made for pecans to be given ‘superfood’ status, as scientists make a surprise discovery of new widespread health benefits, including the nut's ability to combat the ill effects of consuming a high-fat diet. Slice that pie up, stat. [Read more]( Materials [Bizarre new high-strength glue can stick and unstick on command]( [A sample of the new reversible adhesive was able to hold a 40-kg weight for a full 72-hour test without showing signs of weakening]( An intriguing new glue can basically be switched on and off on demand. The adhesive sticks together when hit with one wavelength of light, and breaks apart with another, allowing it to be removed and reused easily – potentially, even underwater. [Read more]( Outdoors [Oru pop-up pickup camper provides all-season comfort with hybrid walls]( [The Oru Designs Bruin hybrid-wall pop-top pickup shell]( Oru Designs presents a rarity in the pickup camping topper market: a pop-up with hard walls. Its Bruin topper uses a hybrid construction to create a warm, weatherproof space that sets up easily and handles the entire calendar year's worth of weather. [Read more]( Outdoors [Outdoor Survival Stick combines camping essentials in one modular unit]( [An exploded view of the Outdoor Survival Stick]( There are a number of "survival items" that people should bring on camping trips, which can be a hassle to round up and pack every time. The Outdoor Survival Stick offers a solution, by keeping everything ready to go in one stowable device. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Startup motors out with low-riding, long-range, dual-motor e-trike]( ["Whether you are commuting to work, enjoying a leisurely ride or searching for some adventure, Vook is all you need"]( Startup Vook Bike has spent the last couple of years working on an e-trike capable of up to 110 miles of per-charge range and packing dual 3-kW hub motors. A funding campaign has now launched on Indiegogo to bring the funky low-rider to production. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Compact projector boasts triple-laser light source and Harman Kardon audio]( [Nomvdic pitches the L500 as the world's smallest triple-laser projector]( Last year, Nomvdic launched a funky-looking portable projector on Indiegogo that rocked Harman Kardon speakers. Now the California-based startup is funding a portable RGB triple-laser projector on Kickstarter, again tapping Harman Kardon for sound. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [3-second workout just 3 times a week provides real benefits]( [A new study has found determined the number of exercise days per week needed to see real benefits]( Researchers who previously found that exercising for just three seconds a day, five days a week, improved muscle strength have undertaken a new study to determine the minimum number of days of three-second exercise you need to do to see benefits. [Read more]( Music [Review: One cheap Gretsch guitar and one really fancy one]( [The Falcon (right) is an absolute stunner, but the Electromatic is an extremely beautiful guitar in its own right]( Having finally accepted that I'm destined for singer/songwriter territory rather than shredville, I've been feeling a little Gretsch-curious lately. So I decided to spend some time with the Rolls-Royce of the range and something more affordable. [Read more]( Outdoors [Newr battery-powered induction cooktop cuts cord on clean camp cooking]( [Connect two Chef units together and you have a dual-spot portable induction cooking system]( While induction cooktops have become prized in RVing for their clean, efficient design, they're not designed for use away from a power source. Newr is looking to go where others haven't, developing a lithium-powered self-contained induction cooker. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Pedal-electric VM45 velomobile lets riders cruise at almost 30 mph]( [Currently known as the VM45, the vehicle will likely be sold under a different (and catchier) name]( Although cargo ebikes are often referred to as replacements for cars, they usually can't match an automobile's urban cruising speed. The VM45 four-wheeled velomobile comes very close however, with a top electric-assist speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). [Read more]( Technology [World's first Apple-certified 6-in-1 charger speedily powers six devices]( [This all-in-one charging station is also a handy desk organizer]( One of the benefits of Apple tech is that it, generally, offers user-friendly synchronicity across devices. But one of the downsides is the lack of synchronicity with charging those devices. This fast, powerful six-in-one station is out to fix that. [Read more]( Automotive [Gaia pop-up pickup cap offers hard-shell security with open bed space]( [Gaia adds some loading versatility with the addition of the pop-up roof]( To cap or not to cap – virtually every pickup owner has considered the question. Gaia helps answer by bringing the best of both worlds, a pop-up cap with the locked, weatherproof security of a hard cap and oversized cargo versatility of an open bed. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). 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