odd look at news on the web
Hyundai finally takes the wraps off the Staria Electric MPV
12 January 2026 @ 12:05 am
Hyundai has been teasing the electric model Staria people mover since 2021 and has finally introduced the full production spec model. Debuting in Brussels, the 800-volt minivan will go on sale in Korea and Europe before mid-2026.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Hyundai, A single inflammatory switch may help repair the liver
12 January 2026 @ 12:03 am
Chronic liver disease gets worse when the liver's immune system stays overactive, resulting in ongoing inflammation and scarring. Signals from the gut make the situation worse by encouraging immune cells to release harmful molecules. Macrophages and monocytes are central players, intensifying injury and shifting the body's defenses toward a more aggressive state. Among them, liver macrophages are essential and are now being explored as therapeutic targets.Continue ReadingCategory: Illnesses and condShipping container transformed into unique space-saving home
11 January 2026 @ 3:03 pm
It's amazing how much mileage architects manage to get from the humble shipping container, with notable designs ranging from large apartment buildings and offices, to tiny houses. This example of the latter skillfully squeezes a comfortable home for two into a single shipping container.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: shiCrafty cap makes Presta valves more robust, boosts airflow by 300%
11 January 2026 @ 11:03 am
Although Presta valves are pretty much standard on higher-end bikes' wheels, the things definitely do have their drawbacks. Dutch company BBB Cycling has decided to do something about that, with a li'l Presta-improving device known as the CoreCap.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: Cycling, Tires, COVID lockdowns changed the beak shape of these city birds
11 January 2026 @ 11:03 am
When COVID-19 lockdowns emptied city streets, urban environments changed almost overnight. New research suggests that Los Angeles city birds responded just as quickly, with measurable shifts in beak shape during this period. The changes coincided with altered food availability and reduced human activity, offering a rare opportunity to examine how human behavior can rapidly shape biological traits in urban wildlife.Continue ReadingCategorSpray-on armor for plants offers a new tool for global food security
11 January 2026 @ 7:03 am
Because of industrial climate chaos, catastrophic economic inequality, war and displacement, there is, as the United Nations puts it succinctly, a global food crisis in 68 countries, with 318 million people facing acute hunger. Simultaneous famines in two countries (Palestine and Sudan) – which the UN calls “a devastating first this century” – threaten millions of lives.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: BYD overtakes Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer
11 January 2026 @ 3:03 am
The year is 2011, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was asked in a Bloomberg interview whether Chinese automaker BYD Auto posed a real competitive threat to Tesla. Musk cheekily laughed and said, "Have you seen their car? I don’t think they have a great product… I don’t think the technology is very strong."Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Enterprise-grade Atlas humanoids heading for Hyundai factories
10 January 2026 @ 11:03 pm
Boston Dynamics has unveiled the new industry-ready Atlas, a humanoid designed as a practical industrial tool for warehouses and factories. Atlas can operate 24/7 in extreme temperatures, and uses AI to adapt to its environment. Production has already started.Continue ReadingCategory: AI and Humanoids, TechnologyTags: Clever inflatable kitchen packs flat, pumps up into campsite cookery
10 January 2026 @ 8:34 pm
The smaller you try to make a micro-camper or tiny trailer, the less space you have to install conventional camping essentials. The bathroom tends to be the first thing to go, but eventually the kitchen might have to follow. Then you're stuck with a backpacking stove, or maybe a box of Pop-Tarts. German startup Stuff Bubble has a different idea on how even the smallest camping vehicles can bring along a complete kitchen. Its collapsible kitchen weighs just 33 lb (15 kg) fully equipped, packs flat on the vehicle floor, and inflates into form at camp, offering a sink, worktop and even a refrigerator.Landmark: Ancient cannabis enzymes resurrected for important new drugs
10 January 2026 @ 9:03 am
Cannabis produces a complex suite of bioactive compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), but how these molecules evolved has long been a mystery. Now, new research has shed light on their origin story – and opened the door to innovative ways of harnessing these compounds for human medicine.Continue ReadingCategory: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living,