Weekend Edition: AI advances materials science, a briefcase-sized e-scooter and fantastic fungi

[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 Materials [Deepmind AI tool catapults materials science 800 years into the future]( [A robotic lab at Berkeley has already created 41 of the 380,000 new inorganic crystals discovered by Deepmind's GNoME AI]( Prepare for a radical acceleration in technological development. A Google Deepmind AI has achieved "an order-of-magnitude expansion in stable materials known to humanity," finding about 800 years' worth of new materials with revolutionary potential. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Battery-swappable Japanese e-scooter folds smaller than a briefcase]( [The folded Arma is larger and heavier than a cup of coffee but still easy to grab and go]( Shimizu is working on what it says will be the world's smallest electric scooter. The 10-lb Arma scooter folds to the length and width of a piece of printer paper to carry in a messenger bag or work as its own mini-briefcase. [Read more]( Science [Natural superhero fungi boosts crop yields by 40%]( [Could nature be the solution to the world's impending food shortages?]( With nearly half the world's soil degraded, growing enough food to feed a global population is getting increasingly more difficult and costly. Scientists believe they've got one solution, and it's already all around us: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. [Read more]( Automotive [Hyundai and Kia's radical Uni Wheel system could revolutionize EV design]( [A conventional EV drivetrain (left) as compared to a Uni Wheel setup (right)]( As is the case with their gas-burning counterparts, electric cars are limited in spaciousness and design by the layout of their drivetrain. Hyundai and Kia have set about addressing that issue, with their radical new Universal Wheel Drive System. [Read more]( Marine [Jet Capsule unveils 2024 Super Sport carbon fiber "mini yacht"]( [Designed for adventure, the compact Jet Capsule Super Sport is a good fit for various water sports activities]( We've covered a few of Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini's Jet Capsule compact motorboats since they hit the market back in 2013. The most recent version, which is set to be released in 2024, is dubbed the Jet Capsule Super Sport. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Speed counts when walking to beat diabetes, says new study]( [Walking is good, but walking faster is better to ward off diabetes, says study]( While it's known that regular walking can help you ward off diabetes, a new study attempts to quantify the speed that maximizes the exercise's benefits. It turns out a little extra pep may go a long way toward cutting your risk of the disease. [Read more]( Energy [Google switches on first-of-its-kind advanced geothermal project]( [The surface footprint of Google's new advanced geothermal plant in Nevada is very compact]( Google has announced that its innovative advanced geothermal plant in Nevada is now operational and connected to the grid, pioneering an approach that promises to unlock clean, always-on geothermal energy across a much larger range of locations. [Read more]( Outdoors [Owomo interlocking panels make world's simplest DIY camping furniture]( [Complementary Owomo lounge chairs]( Owomo looks to simplify the build-your-own camper process with a series of plywood panels that serve as lids for the common gray Eurobox. The panels interconnect like puzzle pieces, creating basic furniture such as beds, tables and lounge chairs. [Read more]( Bicycles [Cannondale launches Bosch-powered carbon-framed commuter ebike]( [The sleek carbon-framed Tesoro Neo Carbon commuter ebike is a Europe-only release]( Cannondale has dissected the DNA of its Synapse road bike to create a tasty carbon-framed "commuter bike that would make a pro cyclist smile." The Tesoro Neo Carbon ebike is a Europe-only release, and rides out with Bosch power. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Streaming 4K projector throws big-screen visuals from inches away]( [The Thor T50 Laser TV can throw 80-inch corner-to-corner visuals from 4 inches away from the display surface, or 150 inches from 25.9 inches away]( Back in September, Ultimea launched a Tri Color Laser TV called the Thor T60 on Kickstarter. As the company gets ready to ship to backers, the UST projector has gone up for pre-order along with a single laser sibling called the Thor T50. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [Shipping container-based tiny house raised high above the forest floor]( [The River Forest Lookout is raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor]( The River Forest Lookout puts shipping container-based architecture on a pedestal – literally. It takes the form of a fire lookout tower-style design that consists of two containers raised 60 ft above the forest floor in rural Georgia. [Read more]( Physics [Ultra-compact particle accelerator does a mile's work with four inches]( [The 4-inch long gas cell in which particles are accelerated to energy levels of 10 billion]( The USA has only two accelerators that can produce 10 billion electron-volt particle beams, and they're each about 1.9 miles long. "We can now reach those energies in 10 cm," said the CEO of TAU Systems, which has built an ultra-compact accelerator. [Read more]( Pets [ZeroMouse blocks home access to carcass-carrying kitties]( [The ZeroMouse is presently on Kickstarter]( RFID cat flaps are great for keeping animals from wandering into your house, but they don't stop your cat from bringing dead animals into said dwelling. The ZeroMouse was designed to address that shortcoming, by blocking access to cats carrying prey. [Read more]( Photography [Kodak's long-awaited "new" Super 8 film camera finally reaches production]( [The Kodak Super 8 Camera – which is available in color choices of black or white – is intended to provide filmmakers with a more accessible means of obtaining the unique look and feel of analog film]( Almost seven years ago, Kodak announced it would soon be offering a digitally enabled movie camera that shot on good ol' Super 8-mm film. Well, it's taken a while, but prospective buyers can now reserve a Kodak Super 8 Camera of their very own. [Read more]( Bicycles [Dual-motor, dual-battery Scout ebike powers through long-haul adventures]( ["The Scout offers a versatile model promising an unmatched riding experience," said Cyrusher at the low-step adventure ebike's launch]( Cyrusher has opened pre-sales for a full-squish low-step adventure ebike called the Scout, which is pitched as a "harmonious blend of compactness and uncompromised performance," and can be had with a single motor/battery or dual motors/batteries. [Read more]( Tiny Houses [20-ft-long tiny house designed with comfort in mind]( [We've no word on the exact price of the Golden Hour, but Baluchon's tiny houses usually start at €80,000 (roughly US$87,000)]( It's a challenge to fit a viable house into a length of just 6 m, but with its Golden Hour, Baluchon has managed it while also finding space to add a few home comforts, including a custom kitchen and a loft bedroom with enough headroom to stand up. [Read more]( Biology [Algorithm identifies 188 new CRISPR gene-editing systems]( [Scientists have identified 188 new CRISPR systems that could greatly expand the range of gene editing tools]( CRISPR systems are powerful tools for genetic engineering, but they have their limitations. Now, scientists have discovered almost 200 new CRISPR systems in bacteria, and found that some can edit human cells even more precisely than existing ones. [Read more]( Space [Deep space travel may mean astronauts can’t get it up back on Earth]( [Exposing male rats to simulated deep space travel led to long-lasting erectile dysfunction]( Researchers have found that deep space travel can cause long-lasting erectile dysfunction. With crewed space missions planned for the near future, the findings highlight the importance of considering astronauts’ sexual health. [Read more]( Aircraft [Autonomous air-to-air refueling system will radically boost endurance]( [DT-25 drones fly in formation with an A310 Multi-Role Tanker Transport]( Airbus innovation division UpNext is testing its next-gen autonomous systems for air-to-air in-flight refueling, which could be a revolutionary leap forward for a variety of military and civil aircraft, safely extending range and endurance. [Read more]( Medical [Structural brain changes detected in novel long COVID imaging study]( [Researchers looked at how COVID and long COVID correlated with microstructural changes to the brain]( New research is the first to reveal microstructural brain changes in long COVID patients compared to fully recovered patients and uninfected subjects. The findings indicate long COVID symptoms can be associated with changes to specific cerebral networks. [Read more]( Urban Transport [Utility Personal Transporter is set to be the smartphone of EVs]( [The UPT prototype, shortly after being unveiled at Envo's showroom in Burnaby, British Columbia]( Remember back before smartphones existed, when you had to buy a separate cell phone, camera, music player, calculator and calendar? Well, the Utility Personal Transporter may one day do for electric vehicles what smartphones did for gadgets. [Read more]( Automotive [Mitsubishi gets down to business with 180-km Minicab EV kei van]( [The 2024 Minicab EV is being made available in two- and four-seat configurations]( At the dawn of the current EV revolution, Mitsubishi launched a highway-capable, mass-produced five-door hatchback called the i-MiEV, followed by an electric version of its veteran microvan. Now that Minicab-MiEV is being updated for 2024. [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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