NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, is back from the dead. After being cancelled in 2024 and pissing off scientists and lawmakers, NASA has contracted Blue Origin to take this golf cart sized rover to the moon’s south pole in late 2027. This is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and is a big step towards unlocking the moon’s secrets and paving the way for humans to live off the land in space.
A thousand light-years away, in the constellation Perseus, a cosmic nursery is humming with life. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory have imaged IC 348, a star-forming region in our Milky Way, and it’s a beautiful picture of galactic creation.
Storms roll in, roads flood and you’re scrambling for outlets that don’t exist. That’s when a portable power station like the BLUETTI AC2A, priced at $129 (was $219), comes into play and a blackout feels like any other Tuesday. This thing weighs less than 8 pounds and fits in a backpack. It puts out 300 watts of continuous AC power from a 204 watt hour battery.
Photo credit: NekoMichiUBC
A single image has been making the rounds this week showing three iPhones on a wooden desk under a purple glow. One of the devices is so small that it looks to belong in a dollhouse, with a massive camera array on the back like an oversized backpack. Next to it is the iPhone 17 Pro, and to the right is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The tiny one in the middle? That’s an iPhone 17 Pro Mini concept.
Opel’s latest Grandland prototype is an autonomous SUV developed in collaboration with TU Darmstadt University that features a lighting system that signals to pedestrians. Colors and symbols replace traditional white LEDs and give us a glimpse into a future where cars don’t just drive on the road but engage with the people around them.
GoPro hasn’t been the loudest voice in the action camera space lately, but the MAX2 is back with a bold statement. This 360-degree camera is pushing the boundaries of what GoPro can do in a crowded market. With clearer footage, smarter editing options and a durable yet sophisticated design the MAX2 is an attractive option for creators who want to capture every aspect of their journey.
Meet the Osmo Nano, DJI’s latest creation and the lightest action camera yet. This tiny device is smaller than a key fob, yet still manages to pack a big punch. After months of rumors and speculation, DJI has finally released this little beauty and it can clip onto your hat, dangle from a lanyard or even attach to your pet.
Nissan has just released a preview of ProPILOT 2.0, its most advanced driving aid ever, and the timing was deliberate. With robotaxis already cruising the streets in a few US cities, the Japanese automaker is getting attention by showing a system designed for the crazy, unpredictable streets of Japan. This month they demoed it in downtown Tokyo, where prototype versions handled the chaos of one-way streets and crosswalks with ease.
