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It proved to be a fun year for tents. We tracked new tent designs of all styles, shapes and sizes a little more closely than we have in the past and saw a whole lot of innovation and activity. The year brought the further expansion of high-performance freestanding ultralight tents from boutique brands, the preponderance of covetable inflatable tents ranging from backpack size to multi-tent base camp size, the refinement of comfier, fuller featured rooftop tents, and the launch of a few flat-lying hammock tents designed for increased comfort and stability, from ground to air. He

The culprit behind the mysterious disappearance of one of the most advanced urban civilizations at the time, contemporaries to Mesopotamians and Egyptians, has finally been identified: a series of severe, long-lasting droughts that dried rivers across the Indus Valley more than 4,000 years ago.Continue ReadingCategory: History, ScienceTags: Archaeolo

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated how tanning beds cause fundamental DNA damage across almost the skin's entire surface that results in a threefold risk of developing melanoma. It puts beyond doubt the dangers associated with using these devices.Continue ReadingCategory: Cancer, Illnesses and conditions, Body and MindTags:

Electronics that can't be easily dismantled for recycling aren't very eco-friendly, nor are petroleum-based adhesives. Scientists have set about addressing both issues, by developing a switchable adhesive made mainly of rose oil.Continue ReadingCategory: Materials, ScienceTags: Adhesive, Roses,

After peering in at the Freedom Camper (née Tusca Hitchhiker), we were wondering if we'd see more wheel-less camper pods hit the scene. Well, we now have an answer and an official Freedom competitor that hails from a brand that specializes in building tiny campers in various shapes and forms. The all-new Tiny Camper Co. Stubby slide-in camper gains a curvier teardrop-size shape while offering the same versatile truck-to-trailer functionality. And it does so for an even lower base price.

Could you imagine being able to "feel" the images on your screen? UCSB researchers have made this sci-fi-like idea a reality. They've developed a display where pixels physically rise off the surface when activated by laser light.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: UC Santa Barbara, Tactile,

The Duna was commissioned by a customer who wanted to experience the comfort of a city apartment in a rural setting. This off-grid tiny house definitely fits the bill, and combines space-saving design with the maker's trademark timber craftsmanship.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: Micro-House,

Ulefone has already made a name for itself in the rugged smartphone business. Now, it's got a sub-brand that's focused on more niche innovations for people who want more differentiated devices – and its first flagship product is quite something.Continue ReadingCategory: Mobile Technology,

Colin Furze used to be a plumber, but really found his calling building wacky contraptions, like a homemade hoverbike, a bicycle with wheels made of ice, and automatic Wolverine claws. He even set the world record for the fastest pram (stroller) by fitting an engine on it.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags:

Downsizing to a tiny house doesn't have to mean giving up your home comforts. The Juniper leans into this idea and even gives some traditional apartments a run for their money. The home is arranged around a spacious single-floor layout and squeezes in a large bathroom with a full-sized bathtub.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: