Britain's Dragonfire laser weapon engages first aerial targets

[New Atlas logo]( Military [Britain's Dragonfire laser weapon engages first aerial targets]( [Dragonfire engaging target]( Britain has fired its Dragonfire high-powered laser weapon at aerial targets for the first time. The test of the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) on the Ministry of Defence's Hebrides Range was designed to demonstrate its power and accuracy. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [A lifetime of learning awaits for less than $50 with this premium app]( An innovative app designed to transform the way people access and consume knowledge, Headway Premium helps bring users valuable content that helps improve their lifestyle. Even better, this lifetime subscription is now on sale for $49.97. [Read more]( Medical [Study gives digital prostate exams the finger as cancer screening tool]( [A study has found that digital prostate exams are not as effective at detecting cancer as thought]( A study has found that a rectal exam alone or in combination with a blood test doesn't improve prostate cancer detection, suggesting the exams could be omitted from prostate cancer screening in men who don’t have clinical signs and symptoms. [Read more]( Outdoors [Rolling tent hitches a ride and inflates into above-ground abode]( [Urang presents a different style of vehicle-based camping]( The vehicle hitch tent always struck us as an idea that was DOA, but perhaps it just needed some refinement. U-rang presents the latest spin with the Hitch Home, an inflatable hitch tent that rolls to and from the vehicle in its own storage box. [Read more]( Aircraft [Regent to debut its hydrofoiling ground-effect Seagliders in Hawai'i]( [Hawai'i will be one of the first markets for Regent's innovative Seaglider, a hydrofoiling wing-in-ground effect vehicle – if the red tape can all be sorted out]( The remarkable Seaglider promises a clean revolution in coastal transport; the convenience of an electric boat meets the speed and comfort of an aircraft, at unparalleled efficiency and range thanks to hydrofoils and the wing-in-ground effect. [Read more]( Space [Neutron star discovered orbiting mysterious object that shouldn't exist]( [An artist's impression of the mysterious binary system]( Astronomers have discovered a neutron star orbiting a mysterious object that, by all accounts, shouldn’t be able to exist. Seemingly invisible in light, and too small to be a black hole, the object defies explanation. [Read more]( Automotive [Westfalia reworks new Ford Transit Custom into Nugget-size mini-camper]( [Westfalia adds to its lineup of Ford Transit Custom camper vans with the all-new Club Joker Urban]( While Westfalia Americas was busy this week with a US relaunch, the brand's German HQ was showing its own new products. The Club Joker Urban camper arrives as a small, versatile Ford Nugget alternative ready to escape into the open-skied yonder. [Read more]( Biology [We finally know just how tardigrades are all but invincible under stress]( [Scientists finally find out how these water bears withstand extreme stress]( For the first time, scientists have uncovered the precise molecular mechanism that gives the tardigrade, one of the toughest organisms on the planet, its ability to switch on a near-invincibility cloak when faced with life-threatening conditions. [Read more]( Medical [Newly discovered virus kills "sleeping" bacteria in superbug breakthrough]( [Scientists have discovered a new species of bacteriophage called Paride (shown in purple) which can attack dormant bacteria]( Bacteria often go dormant to avoid being wiped out by antibiotics, which makes treatment difficult. Now scientists have discovered a virus that can attack these sleeping bugs, clearing out infections effectively when paired with drugs. [Read more]( Space [Japan lands on Moon, but lander may have only hours to live]( [Artist's concept of the SLIM lander]( Japan has become the 5th nation to successfully land on the Moon, but the Champagne corks aren't popping. At 10:20 am EST, the SLIM lander touched down, but the solar panels failed to engage, leaving the craft with only a few hours of battery power. [Read more]( Architecture [Chinese shopping mall topped by world's largest indoor ski center]( [Huafa Snow World is located in Qianhai Bay, in northwest Shenzhen]( 10 Design is creating a huge new mixed-use shopping mall in China. The building will allow visitors to hit the slopes when they're done shopping, using what the firm calls the world's largest indoor ski center. [Read more]( Motorcycles [Post-apocalyptic dream ride made real in the striking Akira electric moto]( [Bel&Bel work under commission, and plan to build a limited series of all-electric Kaneda bike replicas during 2024]( Since 2022, Barcelona-based upcycler and art studio Bel&Bel has been building a hybrid electric replica of an iconic motorcycle featured in a dystopian manga classic. Now a fully electric model is in the works, and it's being made available to fans. [Read more]( Automotive [Remote-control rental cars: Not as driverless as they look]( [Driverless cars: not quite as driverless as they used to be]( A number of companies are now running remote-control rental car services, in which "teledrivers" guide an empty car out to you by remote control, and then you drive it around yourself. It's a weird halfway step towards fully autonomous robotaxis. [Read more]( Remarkable People [Lanny Smoot: First Disney Imagineer inducted into Inventors Hall of Fame]( [Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot, with over 100 patents, will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2024]( With more than 100 patents, illustrious inventor Lanny Smoot is making history as the first Disney Imagineer to be inducted into the National Engineers Hall of Fame. The only other employee from The Walt Disney Company to do so is Walt Disney himself. [Read more]( Medical [Drug to prevent hearing loss from age and lifestyle is a step closer]( [Listen up: Researchers believe we can protect against hearing loss on a molecular level]( A genetic mutation that triggers a 'molecular domino effect' causing hearing loss mirrors the same kind of noise- and age-related damage. Inhibiting a single molecular response has the potential to protect all ears from a common form of hearing loss. [Read more]( Around The Home [Grill-X aims to put a charcoal(ish) barbecue in your kitchen]( [The Grill-X surrounded by some of its handiwork]( For many people who live in places that get "real" winters, barbecuing is an activity that gets put on hold once the snow flies. The Grill-X was designed with that fact in mind, as it reportedly brings a charcoal flavor to foods grilled indoors. [Read more]( Medical [Oral insulin set for human trials in 2025, may be available in 2-to-3 years]( [These capsules containing insulin attached to nanocarriers are set to undergo human trials in 2025]( An oral insulin that has proven effective at reducing blood glucose and avoiding hypoglycemia in mice, rats, and baboons is set for human clinical trials as soon as 2025. The researchers are hopeful the drug be available to all in a few years. [Read more]( Medical [Smartphone-controlled skin patch releases multiple medications on demand]( [The Spatiotemporal On-Demand Patch (SOP), which would be covered by a protective Band-Aid-like material in real-world use]( Nobody likes having to get needles on a frequent basis, or even having to take multiple medications orally throughout the day. A wearable patch could help, by painlessly administering different drugs through the skin when triggered by a smartphone. [Read more]( Marine [Navier partners with Stripe for Bay Area foiling electric ferry pilot]( [The pilot will run from March 2024, and transport Stripe employees from Larkspur to South San Francisco by foiling electric boat]( A San Francisco startup that launched at the 2021 Palm Beach International Boat Show has announced that it will begin ferrying Stripe employees to work on its flagship N30 six-passenger foiling electric boat from March. [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