Bill Gates backs novel device promising wind energy at 1/3 the cost

[New Atlas logo]( Energy [Bill Gates backs novel device promising wind energy at 1/3 the cost]( [An oval-shaped track supports a series of vertical wings, which harvest wind energy to pull themselves around in a loop]( It looks nothing like a typical "fan on a stick" wind turbine, but this oval track with evenly spaced wing blades could be an enormously disruptive addition to the renewable energy mix, since it slashes the cost of wind power to unprecedented lows. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [For $25 Windows 11 Pro makes an ideal stocking stuffer for tech lovers]( As the holiday season nears, finding the perfect gift for your loved ones can be a joyful yet challenging task. Whether it’s a present for a tech-savvy friend or for someone who simply needs a productivity boost, look no further than Windows 11 Pro. [Read more]( Robotics [Prehistoric sea creature gets reborn as a soft-bodied robot]( [The robotic pleurocystitid, which was designed with input from paleontologists in Spain and Poland]( Pleurocystitid was a marine organism that existed almost 450 million years ago, long before the first dinosaurs. Scientists have now built a soft-bodied robotic replica of it, which could inspire new methods of locomotion for future robots. [Read more]( Military [US Marines put rocket launcher on robot dog because, why not?]( [The robot dog armed and ready]( If you think robot dogs with flamethrowers are cool, what about a robot dog with an anti-tank rocket launcher on its back? Built as a research concept, one was tested at the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California last September. [Read more]( Outdoors [MultiMighty bracelet sticks a fist full of tools on your wrist]( [The MultiMighty Paracord Survival Bracelet is presently on Kickstarter]( Even the best multitool isn't going to do you much good if you don't have it with you. The 13-tool MultiMighty Paracord Survival Bracelet is the latest device (there have been others) to address that problem by simply going around your wrist. [Read more]( Medical [Study reveals why some people develop PTSD and others don't]( [A study has linked the hormone stress response to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder]( A new study has revealed that the body’s hormone stress response is why some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder following trauma exposure, and others don’t. The finding could lead to more targeted treatments for the condition. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Insulin may be key to the link between obesity and dementia]( [High-sugar diets may be disrupting the brain's ability to clear out toxic proteins, leading to the development of neurodegenerative diseases]( A new study is pointing to a possible mechanism linking obesity with neurodegenerative disease. The work suggests diet-induced insulin resistance can impair the brain’s ability to clear out neuronal debris and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Tiny treehouses offer space-saving luxury among the treetops]( [The Woodnest Mountaintops are available for rent, starting at NOK 3,300 (roughly US$295) per night]( Helen & Hard has designed a pair of treehouses that are raised high above the forest floor on pine trees in Norway. Each of the dwellings features a space-saving interior layout that's centered around a flexible living area with an elevating bed. [Read more]( Medical [Hell-no Kitty: Cat parasite linked to speeding up age-related frailty]( [The danger zone: Take extra care around your cat's litter]( More than 40 million Americans carry this feline-host bug. Now, a new study has linked our immune response to the infection with accelerated physical and cognitive decline. Fortunately, you don't have to throw the cat out with the cat litter just yet. [Read more]( Automotive [Rimac sets outrageous world record for the fastest speed in reverse]( [The Rimac Nevera achieves 171.34mph (275.74km/h) – in reverse – for a new world record]( Electric motors don't much care whether they're going forwards or backwards – certainly not as much as passengers tend to. So the latest Guinness World Record for Rimac's electric Nevera hypercar is the fastest speed ever recorded in reverse. [Read more]( Space [NASA's Lucy spacecraft discovers unexpected satellite-orbiting asteroid]( [The asteroid Dinkinesh, as seen by Lucy on approach. The small satellite can be seen peeking over the horizon in the bottom-right corner of the image]( NASA’s asteroid-exploring spacecraft Lucy has made its first up-close observations – and discovered something unexpected. The asteroid Dinkinesh not only has a small satellite orbiting it, but that mini-moon is made up of two objects stuck together. [Read more]( Bicycles [Full-carbon Holocene Superbike is made from leftover sailboat scraps]( [The Holocene Superbike also incorporates a unique internal seatpost-retention system, so no external seatpost clamp is required]( Carbon fiber has some great qualities, but easy recyclability isn't one of them. New Zealand manufacturer Vélos Advancements is nonetheless using carbon fiber waste in the production of its limited-run high-end road bike, the Holocene Superbike. [Read more]( Biology ['Overlooked' dinosaur had superpower senses ideal for life underground]( [A family of Thescelosaurus as they may have appeared 66 million years ago]( It's been called plain and boring, but this Thescelosaurus species has now had its sad reputation upended, thanks to fascinating sensory discoveries that suggest it lived a unique, successful life underground, beneath the feet of its fearsome predators. [Read more]( Space [Euclid returns spectacular space snaps in run up to dark matter survey]( [Artist's concept of Euclid]( ESA has released the first five images from its Euclid space telescope that reveal unprecedented high-resolution pictures that cover large areas of the sky in a single shot, demonstrating its capabilities for its upcoming dark matter survey. [Read more]( Science [Implant uses brain signals to decode what people are trying to say]( [Researchers have developed a sensor that records brain signals to decode what people are trying to say]( Researchers have developed an implant that records brain signals to decode what people are trying to say. While still early days, the device may provide people who’ve lost speech due to neurodegenerative disease with the ability to communicate. [Read more]( Space [Evidence of theorized type of black hole discovered near dawn of time]( [An artist's impression of a quasar, or an active supermassive black hole, such as the one discovered in the distant universe in the new study]( Astronomers have discovered evidence of a theorized type of black hole lurking in the distant universe. Known as an “Outsize Black Hole,” this object could help explain some fundamental cosmic mysteries, including how supermassive monsters form. [Read more]( Medical [Biomarker predicts worsening MS 2 years out, provides treatment window]( [Researchers have identified a biomarker that identifies worsening MS disability up to two years before it happens, providing a window for treatment]( New research has found that elevation of a biomarker predicts the worsening of multiple sclerosis disability up to two years before it occurs, providing a timeframe in which interventions can be implemented to prevent or slow worsening disability. [Read more]( Automotive [690-mile Ramcharger electric pickup cures range anxiety with V6 boost]( [2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Bighorn]( The 500-mile 1500 REV electric pickup Ram revealed in April promises to alleviate range anxiety symptoms. But the new 1500 Ramcharger looks to eradicate the problem entirely, using a two-motor e-drive and V6 generator for nearly 700 miles of range. 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