Weekend Edition: Clever campers, a 'bad cholesterol' pill, and radioactive German pigs

[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 our Weekend Edition. Darren Quick Editor-in-Chief Automotive [Clever Weinsberg camper rearranges van life for the next generation]( [The CaraLife 630 MQ is one of the highlights of Weinsberg's Caravan Salon 2023 booth]( The new Weinsberg CaraLife 630 LQ has such a fresh look, it feels like a concept. But it's actually part of the 2024 lineup. Aimed at young adventurers, the camper van's unique layout includes a divider wall, "secret shower" and functional paneling. [Read more]( Medical [World-first drug lowers genetic form of “bad cholesterol” by up to 65%]( [A groundbreaking oral drug has been developed that lowers lipoprotein(a), a previously untreatable largely inherited form of 'bad cholesterol']( Researchers have developed the world’s first oral drug to target a form of cholesterol that has previously been untreatable and is largely caused by genetics, making it difficult to control by way of exercise, diet or other lifestyle factors. [Read more]( Science [Radioactive German pigs affected by unexpected source of contamination]( [The radioactive contamination of wild boars in Germany and Austria has led to an overpopulation issue in some areas, as their meat is considered unsafe for human consumption]( Wild boar in the woods of Austria and Germany have levels of radioactivity that makes their meat unsuitable for eating. Once thought to be the result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, new research points to another, darker, source of contamination. [Read more]( Automotive [Ford's adorable new Nugget PHEV camper van gets the jump on Volkswagen]( [Ford presents the all-new Transit Custom Nugget mini-camper van, soon to be available as a plug-in hybrid]( Ford's Transit Custom has been part of PHEV campers from third-party shops for several years, but not from Ford itself. That changes with the new Transit Custom Nugget camper van, which combines a smart multi-zone layout with available PHEV. [Read more]( Automotive [ZEV debuts an affordable ride-in nano-van for wheelchair users]( [ZEV's new 511 conversion: a ride-in nano-car for wheelchair users]( Plucky West Virginian EV company ZEV has announced what it claims is a radically more affordable ride-in vehicle for wheelchair users than anything else on the market. This US$9,900 ZEV 511 is a fully-enclosed urban getabout with a practical range. [Read more]( Medical [Study highlights wide-ranging health benefits of using CPAP machines]( [They can be challenging devices to wear, but new research shows CPAP machines address more than just sleep apnea]( While effective in treating sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are intrusive and disruptive, which is why 50% of patients give up on using the life-saving devices. A new study shows why they might be worth the discomfort. [Read more]( Medical [Titanium spikes kill superbugs drug-free by literally ripping them apart]( [Researchers have found that micro-spikes etched into titanium rupture microbes, such as this Candida cell (magnified 25,000 times)]( Inspired by dragonfly wings, researchers have developed a drug-free way to kill off drug-resistant microbes that commonly cause hospital-acquired infections. It's a novel and effective way of tackling the problem of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. [Read more]( Space [Chandrayaan-3 sends back first pictures and data from the Moon]( [The Pragyan rover's retraced trackers]( India's Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission has hit the ground running with the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover sending back their first images and instrument data while the rover makes a slow-motion swerve around a crater. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Herbs and spices facilitate fat removal thanks to taste trick]( [Surprisingly, even the healthier brownies scored higher marks in the study]( Let's face it: food that tastes delicious is usually bad for us. But new research shows that a simple preparation trick can dramatically slash fat, sodium and added sugars while making foods like brownies and meatloaf taste just as good. [Read more]( Energy [Ultra-hot carbon batteries promise super-cheap heat and energy storage]( [Antora is installing the "world’s first field demonstration of a thermal battery capable of outputting zero-carbon heat and power for days on end"]( Bill Gates-backed startup Antora Energy is preparing to roll out a containerized, modular heat battery, designed to store renewable energy at the lowest possible cost – then release it efficiently as electricity or industrial process heat. [Read more]( Science [Quantum computer reveals chemical reaction in 100-billionth-speed slow-mo]( [Scientists have used a quantum computer to observe for the first time a certain chemical reaction, by slowing it down by a factor of 100 billion]( Scientists in Australia have used quantum computers to observe something usually too fast for the eye to see. The team managed to slow down a molecular interaction by 100 billion times to see what’s really going on in a common chemical reaction. [Read more]( Aircraft [How to fly a next-gen eVTOL aircraft: We take a lesson at Lilium]( [Lilium is progressing toward certification with both the US FAA and Europe's EASA authorities]( Piloting a cruise-capable eVTOL aircraft will be unlike flying anything that's come before it, thanks to fully digital fly-by-wire flight control systems. We jumped in Lilium's motion-rig simulator to learn how the system feels from the cockpit. [Read more]( Materials [Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency]( [Scientists have developed a new de-icing surface that boasts a reported efficiency of almost 100%]( Ice build-up can pose a problem for roads, aircraft, wind turbines and power lines, among many other things. Now scientists have developed a new structure made of copper nanowires that can passively de-ice surfaces with an efficacy of close to 100%. [Read more]( Aircraft [Boom's XB-1 supersonic prototype starts taxi tests]( [The XB-1 is designed to]( After a 20-year hiatus, the return of commercial supersonic flight is another step closer after Boom Supersonic announced that its prototype faster-than-sound jet has undergone ground tests and won an experimental airworthiness certificate from the US FAA. [Read more]( Bicycles [Santa Cruz rolls out flat- and drop-bar 30-lb carbon Skitch ebike]( [The Skitch GX AXS gravel ebike is claimed to weigh in at 30.03 lb (13.62 kg)]( While there are now a ton of ebikes on the market, many are heavy, kinda dumpy-looking things from obscure companies. Santa Cruz's new carbon Skitch, however, is sleek, lightweight, and ready to hit the street or gravel. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [New "calculator" identifies 14-year dementia risk from 50 onwards]( [A new test has been developed that predicts the 14-year risk of all forms of dementia]( Researchers have developed a new risk 'calculator' that identifies people in midlife at risk of developing dementia in the next 14 years. Moreover, it's based on 11 key risk factors, many of them modifiable. [Read more]( Medical [Four gut disorders associated with increased Parkinson’s risk]( [A study has found that four gut disorders are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease]( A study has found that some gastrointestinal disorders are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The research provides further evidence to support the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative disorder begins in the gut. [Read more]( Medical [Warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest different for men and women]( [A study has found that symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest differ between men and women]( The warning signs of a deadly out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest differ significantly between the sexes, a study has found. Researchers hope their research will improve survival rates and educate people about when to call emergency services. [Read more]( Aircraft [ATRX-700 light sport helicopter created in anticipation of FAA rule change]( [The ATRX-700 light sport helicopter]( While the FAA reviews new regulations to okay light sports helicopters, aerospace companies Advanced Tactics and Rotor X have teamed up to use military helicopter technology to create a fly-by-wire sport two-seater copter called the ATRX-700. [Read more]( Military [Northrop Grumman delivers rugged mini-laser weapon to US government]( [The Phantom mini laser]( Northrop Grumman has delivered a miniaturized high-energy laser, called the Phantom, to the US government that points to future laser weapons that are not only powerful, but small and rugged enough for field combat. [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