gizmag- New Atlas

GOOD THINKING Gizmag is now New Atlas: Why we've changed our name ​For almost 15 years we've worked hard to keep you up to date with the rise of technology and its impact on our daily lives. That has led us into new frontiers, and now, a new name.   Read more MOBILE TECHNOLOGY The iPhone and beyond: The 21st century’s most innovative mobile and gaming gear From today, Gizmag is known as New Atlas, and we thought the moment warranted a look back at some of the key developments that have impacted our personal lives throughout our 15 year history. Join us as we revisit the 21st century's most innovative tech products in mobile, wearable and gaming.​​  Read more DIGITAL CAMERAS Getting out of Auto: Understanding ISO on your digital camera Understanding ISO on your camera can let you shoot in lighting situations you wouldn’t otherwise be able to, it can also let you take control of your image. Here we look at what ISO settings are, and how different settings can be used.  Read more ENERGY Tesla Gigafactory takes shape and, spoiler alert, it's huge already Tesla's big push for the mainstream has two main elements behind it: the ​Model 3 and the Gigafactory, where batteries can be mass produced. Details on the factory had been scarce, but last week's unveiling in Nevada finally provided some detail on the massive battery production facility. ​   Read more MOTORCYCLES The best foldable fat-wheel 2WD Russian motorcycle you’ll see all day ​With 12-inch wide, 25-inch diameter fat wheels and a simple two-wheel drive system, this unique and "distinctive" Russian ag bike can crawl its way through all kinds of mud and slush. It's light enough to haul over obstacles, and it pulls apart quickly to fit in the back of a car.   Read more SPACE Flight plan reproductions to put a touch of Apollo 11 on your coffee table It's not easy – or cheap – to get your hands on authentic Apollo 11 memorabilia. A team based out of Melbourne, Australia is trying to change that by reproducing the original Apollo 11 flight plans, right down to the paper stock, fonts, line spacing and positioning on the page as the originals.​   Read more DRONES DJI's first drone arena gives novices space to spread their wings Getting a grip on drone piloting can be a difficult (and costly) exercise, but DJI is looking to give beginners more room to move. This month, the Chinese company will open the doors to its first indoor facility designed to accomodate beginners earning their wings.   Read more MUSIC Amazon patents noise-cancelling headphones that know your name ​City dwellers might like to drown out the world with noise-cancelling headphones, but some noises are better off not cancelled. Amazon has been awarded a patent for headphones that can recognize specific keywords, like the wearer’s name, and temporarily shut off the noise cancellation.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Subaru XV Hybrid goes to STI handling school City crossovers are hampered by high centers of gravity, making them less agile than regular hatchbacks. Unconcerned by basic physics, STI has created the XV Hybrid tS, in attempt to turn an uninspiring, slow crossover into a slightly more inspiring, slow crossover.   Read more SPORTS No parachute, no problem: Maniacal skydiver nets world-record freefall ​​With no chute, no wingsuit and a big net awaiting far below, Luke Aikens tumbled out of the airplane to begin his 25,000-ft free fall. Minutes later he would embrace his family as the first skydiver to pull off such a feat, but the world record attempt wasn't without last-minute complications. ​   Read more ENVIRONMENT Desalination plant would go deep to protect marine life A desalination project proposed for California’s central coast would draw water from one of the world's deepest submarine canyons, making it potentially less harmful to ocean life. The Deep Water Desal facility would require substantially less energy to operate than typical desalination plants.   Read more OUTDOORS Kyboka hand cart folds flat and straps to your shoulder Hand carts are a great way to roll gear where it needs to go. But what happens when the gear you need to haul is the cart itself? If it's the Kyboka, you fold it flat in a matter of seconds, drop it in the accompanying shoulder bag and get going.   Read more SPACE SpaceX receives order for second manned mission SpaceX has been awarded a second post-certification mission order for its Crew Dragon manned spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station.   Read more MARINE Expanding yacht increases sun-soaked lounging and swimming enjoyment The Italian-built Evo 43 makes itself known as a sharp, stylish boat the minute you spot it on the water. But it's even more than meets the eye.   Read more SCIENCE How dastardly squirrels drive crime scene investigators nuts Crime scene investigators already have plenty to worry about. But now they've got one more foe; squirrels. We’re not joking. The rodents with razor-sharp incisors chew up crime scenes to maintain their dentition, says new research led by James Pokines at the Boston University School of Medicine.  Read more HEALTH & WELLBEING Improved memory may be just a brain-zap away When people suffer from conditions such as Alzheimer's, autism or schizophrenia, however, that function can be compromised. Now, scientists have discovered that help for such individuals may lie in the form of zapping their brains while they sleep.​   Read more PHYSICS Corkscrew-shaped vortex lasers could keep Moore's Law kicking a little longer A new study suggests that encoding information using corkscrew-shaped laser beams could help us keep pace with our ever-increasing data demands.   Read more BIOLOGY Fighting biofilms by messing with the language of bacteria The organized gangs of bacteria known as biofilms are notoriously difficult to dispatch, so researchers figured it might be best to stop them from growing in the first place. They focussed their attention on the communication mechanism inside the colony.   Read more ARCHITECTURE Dream Home 2.0: Starchitect plans on a budget In the 1990's, Life magazine ran a series of articles in which they asked some of the most renowned architects at the time to design homes that could be built for under US$200,000 and sold the plans. One of the most popular of those designs, has been revamped and made available for sale again.​​   Read more SPACE Is exposure to deep space radiation killing off Apollo-era astronauts? ​​Florida State University Professor Michael Delp has identified a link between deep space radiation exposure, and a high rate of mortality due to vascular deterioration in astronauts who flew beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) during the Apollo program.   Read more SPACE Comets aren't collision crumbs according to Rosetta ​​The Rosetta mission is dispelling the notion that comets are leftover bits from crushing cosmic collisions.   Read more DIGITAL CAMERAS Princeton is building a better selfie ​​Millions of selfies are snapped every day, but they often fail to accurately portray reality, featuring unflattering distortions. A new tool could change that, allowing selfies to be adjusted, giving the impression that they’re taken from a little farther away, or from a slightly different angle.​   Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS Get Two Cables for the Price of One -- Each Cable Is Equipped to Charge Both Micro-USB & Lightning Devices! Finally a gadget to help Android and Apple lovers live in harmony has arrived! This handy 6-foot MFi-certified charging cable will keep your trusted devices powered from a distance, so you won't be stuck slouching over a pesky outlet. This must-have cable is compatible with both Lightning devices and micro USB devices, so a difference in platforms won't be the difference maker in your relationship.   Read more