Lifestyle
The latest news on health, home innovation, design, architecture and outdoor living.
Shipping container-based tiny house raised high above the forest floor
November 28, 2023
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.
Health & Wellbeing
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Relaxation practices may be counterproductive for insomnia
January 18, 2024CBT is a multifaceted approach recommended as a treatment for chronic insomnia. A new study looked at CBT components to determine which are most effective for improving sleep, finding that relaxation techniques may potentially be counterproductive. -
Death of a sibling in childhood increases heart disease risk by 17%
January 09, 2024Research has linked the death of a sibling early in life to a 17% increased risk of cardiovascular disease, with most being early-onset. The findings highlight the need to provide support to bereaved siblings to reduce the risk of future health issues. -
Brain-training app significantly reduces severity & impact of tinnitus
January 09, 2024A study has found that a smartphone app that uses a chatbot to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy can significantly reduce the distress caused by tinnitus, as well as the anxiety and depression that often accompanies it.
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Outdoors
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Rolling tent hitches a ride and inflates into above-ground abode
January 19, 2024The 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. -
Night-vision binoculars bring 4K color to after-dark exploration
January 16, 2024Last year, Duovox launched a successful Kickstarter for a full-color 1080p night-vision monocular. Now Yashica is live on the platform with a pair of night-vision binoculars that bring a touch of color to the darkness at up to 4K resolution. -
Solar Generator Mars Bot stores electricity by moving with the sun
January 12, 2024Portable photovoltaic systems are great for generating electricity while off the grid, but constantly moving them to keep them in the sunlight can be a hassle. Jackery's Solar Generator Mars Bot offers a solution to that problem, as it moves itself.
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Tiny Houses
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Czech architect crafts tiny house on stilts for serene living
January 17, 2024Prague-based architectural firm Jan Tyrpekl recently revealed its latest tiny house project, a 30-sq-m dwelling perched above concrete pillars named Zen House that's nestled in the tranquil landscape of Hainburg an der Donau, Austria. -
Ultra-compact tiny house embraces space-saving Japanese design
January 16, 2024This latest model by French firm Baluchon is very small, even by tiny house standards – measuring just 4.5 m in length. Featuring Japanese-inspired styling, its diminutive size required some clever space-saving design. -
Small but perfectly formed: Top 10 tiny houses of 2023
December 24, 20232023 has been another big year for the small living movement and, as it comes to a close, we're taking a look at 10 of the most interesting and innovative tiny houses we've seen over the past 12 months.
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Architecture
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Cliff-hanging stadium planned for Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya giga-project
January 19, 2024Following the unveiling of its esports arena for Saudi Arabia's gigantic Qiddiya development, Populous has revealed plans for a high-tech stadium for the giga-project too. It will be situated on the edge of a cliffside and feature a flexible design. -
Glazed tower embraces the outdoors with breezy tree-filled interior
January 15, 2024MVRDV has revealed plans for a new tower in Chengdu, China. Rising to 150 m tall, it will be arranged around a large full-height atrium filled with greenery that will help the interior maintain a comfortable temperature naturally. -
Lush plant-filled airport terminal is powered by renewable energy
January 11, 2024SOM's new airport terminal in India provides weary travelers with a lush interior that's filled with plants and trees, and is made from natural materials like bamboo and stone. Impressively, all of its power needs are met by renewable energy.
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Around the Home
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Grill-X aims to put a charcoal(ish) barbecue in your kitchen
January 19, 2024For 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. -
Puresky converts kitchen waste to compost in a claimed six hours
January 10, 2024Although we should try to keep as little of our organic waste as possible from going to the landfill, not everyone has the outdoor space for a compost heap. The Puresky Waste Composter is designed to help, by moving the composting indoors. -
Samsung revives Ballie smart robot assistant, adds 1080p projector
January 09, 2024Back at CES 2020, Samsung rolled out a bright yellow robot companion called Ballie, which was designed to help out around the home. Now an updated version featuring projection capabilities has been revealed at this year's event.
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Good Thinking
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Hedgehog "crash test dummy" may save the critters from being robo-mowed
January 16, 2024It's a sad and gruesome fact that robotic lawnmowers sometimes run over hedgehogs, maiming and even killing them. That's why scientists have recently developed a rubber hedgehog stand-in, for safety-testing such mowers. -
Kim-e electric wheelchair gets users standing and rolling
January 15, 2024For many wheelchair users, one of the biggest problems with using a chair is not being able to stand as tall as other people. The Kim-e wheelchair was designed with that fact in mind, as it raises its user to an upright stance in just a few seconds. -
Study reveals which Zoom background items make you look more competent
January 10, 2024Before you hop on your next Zoom call, you might want to tailor your background in a very particular way, says a new study. Doing so could make everyone else on the call perceive you as being more competent – whether or not you really are.
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Children
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Lego pays homage to a 70s classic, the Polaroid OneStep SX-70 instant
December 15, 2023Sadly not in time for the holidays, but perhaps a treat for the new year – a project out of the Lego Ideas fan platform is about to bring the iconic OneStep SX-70 instant camera back to life through a 516-brick set. -
Review: Turing Tumble lets kids build complex marble-powered computers
November 14, 2022Minnesota company Upper Story has sent us its Turing Tumble, a fascinating educational toy that quietly tricks kids into inventing binary logic computers using nothing more than tiny marbles dropping through a series of clicky-clacky plastic pieces. -
Shark Wheel proves it's cool to be square with mini electric cars for kids
June 28, 2022Back in 2013, California-based startup Shark Wheel hit Kickstarter with a very odd-looking cube-shaped skateboard wheel. Now the company has supersized the design for a pair of funky electric cars for kids – the Shark SUV and the Shark UTV.
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Remarkable People
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High-tech entrepreneur Brett Adcock on Figure, Archer, and early success
October 02, 2023Brett Adcock has co-founded two companies on the bleeding edges of innovation in emerging markets: Archer Aviation, in the world of eVTOL aircraft, and Figure, in humanoid robots. We look into his background, and the startup that launched it all. -
SR-71 pilot, photographer and storyteller Brian Shul dies at 75
May 21, 2023The aviation world has lost one of its brightest luminaries. Major Brian Shul was an incredible survivor and a top gun pilot – but also a gifted photographer and storyteller, whose stories about the extraordinary SR-71 Blackbird will live forever. -
Soggy professor breaks underwater-living record in sea habitat
May 16, 2023An adventurous professor from the University of South Florida has broken the world record for living in an underwater habitat. Joseph Dituri has called the submurged Jules’ Undersea Lodge home since March 1, and intends to remain there until June 9.
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Pets
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ZeroMouse blocks home access to carcass-carrying kitties
November 27, 2023RFID 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. -
Fat cats: Study reveals the effects of obesity on feline digestion
November 02, 2023A new study has revealed how overeating affects a cat’s digestion and gut microbiome. The greater understanding provided by the study may help to prevent pet obesity and the health problems associated with it. -
Rubicon Dog is a pooch-holding canine booster seat
August 11, 2023Many people seatbelt their dog on car rides, but they don't want the critter messing up the seats. The Rubicon Dog is designed with just such folks in mind, as it safely secures pooches while containing their loose fur and dirty paws.
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Holiday Destinations
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"Hologram zoo" opens in Australia
July 26, 2023Axiom Holographics has opened a unique family attraction in Brisbane, Australia, a kind of augmented reality zoo built around a much larger version of Euclideon's multi-viewpoint 3D display tables and Unlimited Detail graphics engine. -
111 Resources, ideas & opportunities for people who can "work from anywhere"
March 23, 2023The collective mindset change that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have begun a societal revolution that may well return us to our nomadic origins. We've collected a list of resources available for those who can work-from-anywhere. -
Airbnb lets visitors haunt the halls of the Phantom of the Opera's home
February 21, 2023Airbnb regularly offers the chance to stay in one-of-a-kind places, and has now teamed up with Palais Garnier, the Paris opera house which inspired the Phantom of the Opera novel, to offer a night of luxury and a rare look behind the scenes.
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