Shift Drive is an ebike belt drivetrain that can shift gears

[New Atlas logo]( Bicycles [Shift Drive is an ebike belt drivetrain that can shift gears]( [Veer's (currently ) two-speed Shift Drive system is compatible with traditional wheel hubs and frames]( For vehicles like ebikes, belt drives offer a smoother, zero-maintenance alternative to chain drives. The Shift Drive system takes the technology further, by allowing riders to shift between two gears – plus it works on unmodified bicycle frames. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Tech the Halls! Score a refurbished HP ProDesk 600 for under $200]( The holiday season is upon us, and if you're looking for the perfect gift, check out this HP ProDesk 600. This is not just any run-of-the-mill desktop computer; it's a refurbished wonder that's good for your wallet and even better for the planet. [Read more]( Architecture [3D-printed apartment building provides affordable housing in Germany]( [The 3D-printed apartment building is described as Germany's first 3D-printed social housing]( 3D-printed construction continues to grow in popularity, and the latest example is an ambitious apartment building in Germany. The project will incorporate cutting-edge 3D printing tech and timber, and will host affordable social housing. [Read more]( Science [Wasabi offers a memory-boosting kick to an aging brain]( [It sure feels like wasabi can clear your mind, and research suggests there is some truth to that]( Love it or hate it, this punchy Japanese condiment has many scientists very interested in its cognitive health-boosting abilities. A new study of 60-80-year-olds supports the growing evidence – and you don't even need to taste it to reap the benefits. [Read more]( Automotive [PlugVan rolling RV kit is a complete VW mini-camper on caster wheels]( [PlugVan shrinks its plug-and-play camper box down to small and midsize van form]( Since making a 2019 debut, PlugVan has been growing a full product lineup of plug-and-play van modules for both work and play. Its latest is a smaller camper kit that instantly converts small and midsize vans like the Volkswagen T6.1 and Caddy. [Read more]( Materials [Lasers allow fine-tuning of 3D-printed metals without "heating & beating"]( [A 3D-printed object being removed from the printer]( A team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge has developed a new technique that uses high-energy lasers to fine tune the properties of 3D-printed metal without compromising the complex shapes it forms. [Read more]( Medical [High blood insulin levels linked to pancreatic cancer in new study]( [A study has found a link between high blood insulin levels and pancreatic cancer]( A study has linked elevated blood insulin levels and pancreatic cancer. The researchers say their findings may lead to new cancer prevention strategies and targeting treatments to slow or prevent the progression of the cancer. [Read more]( Space [Move over TRAPPIST-1: New planetary system of 7 Super-Earths discovered]( [An artist's impression of some of the planets in the Kepler-385 system]( Move over TRAPPIST-1 – there’s an exciting new planetary system in town. Meet Kepler-385, home to seven Super-Earths that were just discovered in existing data. [Read more]( Biology [12 times more people will die from zoonotic viruses by 2050, study says]( [Global threat: COVID-19 demonstrated how quickly a zoonotic virus can take hold beyond its origin]( Anyone who has been on the planet for the last four years will know how viruses that evolve to jump across species can rapidly become a serious global crisis. Researchers now believe we're in an alarming new age of vertebrate animal-to-human infections. [Read more]( Marine [Beachlauncher allows Nemo sub pilots to drive in and out of the water]( [Beachworks has created a special Nemo submarine version of its existing Beachlauncher]( Although the Nemo submarine is billed as "the lightest manned submersible ever built," it's still typically hefted into the water via a crane on a yacht. The Beachlauncher offers an easier alternative, in which the sub is simply driven into the sea. [Read more]( Architecture [Bottles to bridges: Glass-based concrete makes for a greener crossing]( [The Darwin Bridges project was constructed using concrete containing recycled glass equivalent to 70,000 wine bottles]( Production of the cement used in concrete is a major cause of CO2 emissions, so Provencher Roy used an alternative for two bridges in Canada. They were built from concrete that contained recycled glass, reducing its greenhouse gas footprint. [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