odd look at news on the web
Perovskite solar cells are the 'impure' bad boys of next-gen photovoltaics
26 April 2026 @ 5:03 pm
“Purity” is one of the many myths of perfection, suggesting that absolute conformity is the only way to produce supreme value. Just as that claim is false for human populations, new research in physics at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) shows it’s also false for solar cells.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, EngineeringTags: 215-sq-ft tiny house goes big on comfort with hot tub and sauna
26 April 2026 @ 3:03 pm
This 215-sq-ft (20-sq-m) tiny house may be on the smaller side, but it still manages to make room for some of life's luxuries. The non-towable home features a comfortable interior for two and even has its own sauna and hot tub nearby.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: Nanogenerator harvests electricity from evaporating seawater
26 April 2026 @ 11:03 am
Imagine a device using an energy source the size of planet Earth, and offering nearly limitless electricity with no ecologically devastating mining required to get it. Science fiction? A lie from Big Battery? A fentanyl fantasy from the Energizer Bunny? No – it’s real, and it’s the ocean.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, EngineeringTags: New ID.3 Neo: Is this what a proper VW electric hatch looks like?
26 April 2026 @ 5:03 am
Volkswagen hasn’t exactly nailed the EV game yet … globally, at least. With the much hyped ID.7 sedan scrapped for North America, and cars like the ID.Buzz reporting bleak sales, VW was in a fix.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Volkswagen, PuroAir: Testing out both its HVAC filters and air purifier
25 April 2026 @ 10:03 pm
I'm pretty religious about swapping out my HVAC filter every month. When I pay rent, I change the filter. That's just how I do it. Living in a beach town means the wind is pretty much always blowing, and in my case, it's blowing in from the Gulf. The means sand and dust are a constant. And at this particular moment, it's peak pollen season here! If I leave anything outside for a day or two, it's yellow.ContiMova robomower review: Absolute garbage, right up until it wasn't
25 April 2026 @ 7:02 pm
The Mova LiDAX Ultra 1000 was hands down the most frustrating mower I've used so far. The caster front wheels made this thing completely unusable in my sandy grass no matter what I tried. So I rage quit and took it down the street to a neighbor's house, where he and his wife spend a significant amount of time caring for their perfect lawn, perfect yard, and lovely garden. If there's any lawn this thing should, Seriously small tiny house comes at an ultra-affordable price
25 April 2026 @ 5:03 pm
A lot of tiny houses nowadays are anything but. For those who think they should actually live up to their name, the Mantra Micro Cabin is an ultra-compact dwelling that ditches the bells and whistles to sleep two for just US$17,000.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: Interview: The avionics suite designed to let anyone fly a plane
25 April 2026 @ 3:03 pm
California-based aerospace company Airhart Aeronautics recently completed test flights of its new cockpit avionics suite for small planes at the company's Long Beach facility. We sat down with Airhart President Nate Thuli to learn more.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: Aircraft, How a steam-powered moto became the second-fastest bike in the world
25 April 2026 @ 12:03 pm
For most people, it’s hard to fathom what true speed on a motorcycle actually feels like. Even most riders have never experienced velocities that might make them question their place in the world.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: Steam Power, Extra-wide tiny house provides apartment-like living for two
25 April 2026 @ 8:03 am
This extra-wide tiny house takes a considered approach to small living, using its increased width not to sleep more people or squeeze in extra features, but instead to create an open, apartment-like home for two. It also has lots of upgrades available and can be configured to run off-grid.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: