Key chemical found at the edge of galaxy suggests alien life is common

[New Atlas logo]( Space [Key chemical found at the edge of galaxy suggests alien life is common]( [An artist's impression of the Milky Way galaxy, which a new study has found could be more habitable than previously thought]( Phosphorus – a key ingredient for life as we know it – was thought to be relatively rare in space. But now, astronomers have detected a surprising amount of the stuff on the fringes of the galaxy, suggesting life may be more common in the cosmos. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [This under $100 2-for-1 drone bundle arrives in time for the holidays]( Unleash the thrill of capturing aerial content this holiday season with the Alpha Z PRO 4K + Flying Fox 4K Wide-Angle Dual-Camera Drone Bundle. This incredible package includes two top drones and brings forth double the fun for the price of one. [Read more]( Automotive [Split-chemistry battery boosts BMW iX all-electric range to 608 miles]( [ONE splits the skateboard chassis into two different battery halves]( Last year, BMW and Michigan startup Our Next Energy (ONE) announced a partnership to test the latter's Gemini battery system. The initial results are in, and the project proved quite successful, pushing the BMW iX to just over 600 miles a charge. [Read more]( Energy [World's largest tokamak fusion reactor powers up]( [JT-60SA has been under development since 1970]( The world's largest and most advanced tokamak fusion reactor has gone online as the EU/Japanese 370-tonne JT-60SA reactor was fired up for the first time during an inauguration ceremony in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. [Read more]( Medical [Regular ketamine use found to restructure the brain's dopamine system]( [A study has found that repeated ketamine use affects specific dopamine-producing structures in the brain differently]( Researchers have revealed how regular ketamine use produces divergent changes in parts of the brain that produce the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter, dopamine. The discovery could have significant implications for the treatment of mental illness. [Read more]( Automotive ["Mad Mike" unveils world's first 5-rotor Wankel in wild drift car]( ["Mad Mike" unveils the Madaz 787D drift monster, complete with the world's first 5-rotor Wankel rotary engine]( Internal combustion engines have still got a few punches left in them. Case in point: Kiwi drifter "Mad Mike" Whiddett has unveiled "the wildest drift car I could think of," built around the world's first 5-rotor Wankel rotary engine. [Read more]( Outdoors [Beyond X rooftop hub tent doubles livable volume of Jeep below]( [The Fjordsen Beyond X Large looks and sizes larger than the Jeep Wrangler's entire passenger/cargo interior]( Fjordsen first came to our attention in 2020 with its extra-colorful inflatable rooftop tent (RTT). This year, it launched something even more eye-catching: the massive Beyond X hub-style RTT, which rises nearly 5 feet over the vehicle roof below. [Read more]( Architecture [Flexible and light-filled "true oasis" hailed as UK's best new home]( [RIBA has announced that London's Green House, by Hayhurst and Co, has won the coveted 2023 House of the Year prize]( The Royal Institute of British Architects has revealed its choice for the best new house in the UK. The 2023 House of the Year prize has been awarded to Hayhurst and Co for its Green House, a lush and light-filled family home in London. [Read more]( Physics [Hunting spacetime fluctuations could unite Einstein and quantum physics]( [An artistic impression of an experiment investigating whether spacetime follows classical or quantum physics]( A unified Theory Of Everything is the holy grail of physics, but gravity refuses to play ball. A newly proposed theory attempts to unify Einstein’s theory of gravity with quantum mechanics – and importantly, outlines a way to test it experimentally. [Read more]( Technology [Looking Glass Factory kickstarts first portable holographic display]( [The Looking Glass Go is pitched as the world's first portable holographic display]( The Looking Glass Factory brought personal holographic imagery to the desktop back in 2020 with the launch of the Portrait. Now the company has again taken to Kickstarter for what's billed as the "world's first portable holographic display." [Read more]( Marine ["Heaving oscillators" use wave power to extend shipping range]( [Harvesting energy from the motion of the ocean could extend the range of large ships]( Ships can become mobile wave energy converters, say Chinese researchers, using "heaving oscillators" that draw power from heaving, rolling and pitching movements as they move through the sea, while also acting as motion dampers to improve safety. [Read more]( Around The Home [Christmas tree genetically improved for less needly mess to clean up]( [Researchers have genetically enhanced the Fraser fir to create a taller, prettier Christmas tree that's more likely to retain its needles]( Researchers have taken the best genetic characteristics of the Fraser fir, arguably the most popular choice for Christmas tree, and used them to create a tree that’s taller, prettier, and – importantly – sheds only a fraction of its needles. [Read more]( Environment [‘Not right now’: Key marine species turned off sex by plastic chemicals]( [A study has found that plastic additives can interrupt the reproductive behavior of a key player in the aquatic food web]( A study has found that plastic additives might be stopping the reproductive habits of a shrimp-like species that is key to the marine food chain. The findings provide a different perspective on the potential damage caused by specific pollutants. [Read more]( Medical [In a first, human study shows how dopamine teaches our brain new tricks]( [More than just the 'rewards' chemical, dopamine helps our brains avoid negative experiences based on previous 'punishment']( A groundbreaking study has mapped dopamine, deep inside the brain, in real time. Surprising researchers, the "pleasure neurotransmitter" is more complex than earlier thought, shaping our brain to make better decisions based on prior experience. [Read more]( Photography [Motorized Hyperdolly gets cameras moving for slick dolly shots]( [Users can still manually pan and tilt the camera as the Hyperdolly is in motion]( Handheld gimbal stabilizers are all very well and good, but for really classy-looking cine camera movements, nothing beats a wheeled dolly shot. The Hyperdolly is designed to get those shots, without having to lay down any tracks. [Read more]( Bicycles [Hybrid commuter ebike gains integrated display, battery boost]( [The Gin X hybrid commuter ebike has been updated for 2023 with an integrated handlebar display and a 150-mile battery]( Last year, UK-based Gin ebikes launched a budget-friendly commuter sporting quality components called the X. Now the company has announced an update to the formula that sees the addition of an in-handlebar display and a bigger battery. [Read more]( Science [Smart sensor uses color to monitor deformation and temperature]( [The ChromoSense sensor is said to replicate the functionality of our skin, as it simultaneously senses both mechanical pressure and changes in temperature]( Soft robotic devices often need to sense both mechanical deformation and changes in temperature, requiring multiple integrated sensors. ChromoSense technology, however, combines both functions in one simple, robust, color-changing device. [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