New Atlas

COMPUTERS Hollywood and Hacking: The 1980s - kid hackers, nerds and Richard Pryor From "WarGames" to "Mr Robot" we’ve tracked the path of Hollywood representations of hacking from the rigorously accurate to the amusingly ridiculous. In Part One we look at the 1980s.  Read more AUTOMOTIVE Morelo Empire Liner caters to nomads with expensive taste According to Morelo, the best way to meld luxury with portability is with the Empire Liner, a ​seriously ​expensive ​motorhome with all the trappings of a posh apartment inside.   Read more AIRCRAFT UN agreement aimed at capping aviation CO2 emissions Advances in aviation may seem to have made the world a whole lot smaller, but they've also had a huge environmental impact. With this in mind, a new global measure has been agreed, aimed at offsetting carbon emissions from air travel and map out a more efficient, sustainable future for air travel.   Read more TINY HOUSES Ski Lodge on wheels designed for piste-loving couple Maximus Extreme Living Solutions recently completed a new tiny house for a couple of skiing enthusiasts. The Tiny Ski Lodge features an interesting interior layout that includes an upstairs lounge and a hobby room for sewing and crafting.   Read more COLLECTIBLES The most valuable scientific documents of all-time #50-41 This is the second of a six part series covering the most valuable scientific documents and manuscripts. This installment covers #50 to #41, beginning with Einstein's first scientific paper, which was written when he was 16-years of age.   Read more ENERGY Genetic modification gives major boost to algal hydrogen production Using genetic engineering, researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have modified algae to boost its hydrogen production by 400 percent. This could lead to algae being used to mass-produce hydrogen on an industrial scale.   Read more URBAN TRANSPORT Sweden's Uniti short-range city EV successfully navigates crowdfunding route ​Range anxiety is a priority for many EVs, but others are steering into the skid with small EVs designed for short-range city driving. Joining them is the Swedish startup Uniti, which has just hit its crowdfunding goal to develop a prototype of its own little electric city car by the end of 2017.   Read more ENERGY World's biggest defence company builds plant to make energy from landfill Last month, executives at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York plant cut the ribbon on a new self-sustaining bioenergy system that is helping power the facility, converting 3,560 tons of waste per year into clean electricity.   Read more SPACE ESA gives Schiaparelli probe final commands ahead of Mars landing ​With arrival at Mars set for October 19, ESA mission control has uploaded of final instructions for the computer aboard the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator spacecraft to guide the unmanned lander during its descent and touchdown.   Read more SCIENCE 4,000 year old teeth tell of ancient British and European tourists Today, people flock to Stonehenge from all over the world, but it may have been an international attraction for thousands of years. By studying teeth buried there, a new study found ancient people were surprisingly mobile, traveling around Britain and Europe and often being buried far from home.   Read more AROUND THE HOME Nightingale Sleep encourages slumber under a white noise "sound blanket"  A white noise machine or app can be a handy bedside companion for insomniacs. Cambridge Sound claims it has a better option with Nightingale, a new IoT-enabled system that uses two speakers placed around a room to create a “sound blanket,” which blends into the background and blocks incoming sound.   Read more COLLECTIBLES The world's most valuable scientific books and manuscripts - an overview of the marketplace A close look at the world's most valuable scientific documents and manuscripts illustrates both how far science has come in a relatively short time, and how little we value our legacy in monetary terms.   Read more ENVIRONMENT Beery wastewater gets an electrifying new life Beer-brewing wastewater can't just be dumped in the sewer – it has to be filtered first, which can be expensive. Now, however, there may be a new use for the water. It could be used to grow a fungus that's in turn made into "green" battery electrodes. ​  Read more BIOLOGY Male fishing spider might offer himself as snack to females to help offspring After a male fishing spider mates, he dies and his female partner eats him. New research out of the the University of Nebraska-Lincoln postulates that the macabre ritual might have to do with ensuring healthy and abundant offspring.  Read more GOOD THINKING Glow-in-the-dark bike path lights the way in Poland Two years ago, Studio Roosegaarde created a glow-in-the-dark bike path in Eindhoven, Netherlands, helping to light the route in a exciting way. Inspired by that, a materials technology center in Lidzbark Warminski, Poland, has followed suit, with equally dazzling results.   Read more SCIENCE Apes grasp the concept of people being wrong Us humans know that even if someone believes something, that thing may not in fact be true. According to new research, however, some of our fellow apes may likewise be aware that what people think doesn't necessarily mesh with reality.​  Read more MEDICAL Blood markers peel back the curtain on a stealthy form of liver disease  Scientists have discovered a way to detect telltale signs of NASH, a stealthy form of liver disease in its early stages, raising the prospect of a simple blood test and much earlier interventions.   Read more DRONES Verizon trials drones as flying cell towers to plug holes in internet coverage ​​Verizon has joined the likes of Facebook, Google and telcommpatriots AT&T in exploring the potential of internet-connected unmanned aircraft, with an immediate focus on shoring up communications for first responders in emergency situations.   Read more AUTOMOTIVE Hydrogen-powered ferry idea floated for San Fransisco The team at Sandia National Laboratories believes San Fransisco could be the perfect place to set hydrogen boat travel afloat, arguing a fuel cell commuter ferry would be feasible running in the Bay Area.   Read more SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS This 3-Pack of MFi-Certified Lightning Cables is 83% Off You can never have enough Lightning cables to keep all of your Apple devices charged, and with these 10-ft, MFi-certified monster cables, you'll have more flexibility than ever. Keep a cable at your office, in your bag, by your bed, or anywhere you might need to grab a quick charge. When it says MFi-certified, you know these cables are guaranteed to work perfectly with your Apple devices.   Read more