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Tubeless mountain bike tires certainly improve on their conventional counterparts, but could they perform even better? The OPTIS insert is claimed to help them do so, by serving as an inflatable alternative to foam-bodied tubeless tire inserts.
Tags: Tires, Cycling, Mountain Bikes, Inflatable
The Tesla Cybertruck has done what very few modern-day vehicles have been able to achieve – become one of the most recognizable cars on the road. However, Tesla has a major issue on its hands: Its angular electric pickup isn't selling in the numbers it had hoped for.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Tesla, Tesla Motors, Cybertruck, Electric Vehicles, Truck, Elon Musk
Hot, restrictive, itchy ... those are some of the nicest adjectives we can think of to describe the average sleeping bag we've used. Even if your experience is more positive than ours, you have to admit that the sleeping bag doesn't always do a great job of approximating the comfort of home bedding. It keeps you alive and hypothermia-free, but not necessarily comfortable. Rumpl has long sought to offer a better alternative, and its all-new Wrap Sack looks to solve the sleeping bag's most glaring shortcomings with an adjustable multi-layer design and oversized shape.
Tags: Sleeping Bags, Camping, Outdoors and Camping
A new study has found that even if survivors’ physical and psychological scars have healed after experiencing trauma, their bodies can still carry a biological “imprint” of the event years into the future – the body doesn't forget.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Trauma, mental health, Cytokines, Inflammation, University of Oklahoma
The debate has been raging for decades: can a Formula 1 car drive inverted from downforce alone? No one ever asked if a McMurtry Spéirling could ... turns out, it's no problemo.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Record-breaking, McMurtry Automotive, Electric Vehicles, formula one
Zombies are real – not in the walking dead sense, but there are parasites that can hack the brains of living creatures and force them to do things against their will, with the goal of spreading the infection. That relative realism is why The Last of Us hits so hard, and the launch of the second season feels like a great time to explore some of the real-world zombie stories that inspired it.
Tags: Insect, Ants, ANT+, Parasites, nature, Animal science, Animals, TV, Television
One of the images already selected as part of the #YourShotOurHOME challenge.
"An adorable Asiatic lion cub sleeps in the middle of the road. The cub was trying to warm itself during a winter afternoon, when the sand was warmer than the other parts of the forest."
Photo: Hardik Shelat, @hardik_shelat_photography
National Geographic is asking photographers to submit photos or videos that "celebrate the beauty of the planet" for Earth Day. Its editors, along with filmmaker Bertie Gregory, will pick their favorites to share on the company's "Your Shot" Instagram page.
Entering is pretty simple: all you have to do is post a photo to Instagram using the hashtag "#NatGeoYourShotOurHOME" before April 22nd. The company says Gregory will pick his personal favorites from the photos submitted and share them in a gallery on the @NatGeoYourShot Instagram page on April 30th.
Another selected image.
"Rising majestically above the California landscape, Mount Shasta is a potentially active volcano that stands as a silent guardian of the ancient legends that surround it. A sacred peak in Native American lore, it’s said to be the home of powerful spirits and a gateway to another world. Its snowcapped grandeur and timeless presence remind me of the mysteries that lie beyond the horizon. I took this aerial image while flying my single-engine plane."
Photo: Jassen Todorov, @jassensf
National Geographic isn't pitching this as a formal contest but as a "fun and open way for people of all photography experience levels to engage with Nat Geo and share how they see the beauty of our planet." As such, there aren't many requirements, though the Your Shot FAQ page recommends posting a resolution of at least 1080px by 1080px, and says that images can't be digitally manipulated beyond "standard color correction and retouching to eliminate dust on camera sensors and film, or scratches on scanned negatives or prints."
You can submit as many photos as you like – if yours is selected, you'll be asked to share the full-size photo, along with a Raw, caption and signed release form.
This week was the National Association of Broadcasters' trade show in Las Vegas, where video companies flocked to show off their new tools and accessories. For this week's roundup we're going to go over some of the coolest things we saw, though if video isn't your thing, fear not – there's plenty here for you, too.
First, though, let's see what's on sale.
Sales of the week Photo: CanonGiven that it's a big week for video, it only felt right to highlight that the EOS R5 C – which is essentially the EOS R5 but with more cooling and video features – is currently on sale for $700 off.
Buy now:
$4499 at Amazon.comBuy at B&H Photo Photo: Richard ButlerFor the more photo-focused, Sony's also running a sale on its a7 IV, knocking $500 off the retail price.
Buy now:
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo Straps on demand Image: StroppaStroppa is a company known for custom-making camera straps out of leather and rope, but the made-to-order nature of its products has always involved a bit of a wait between when you order your strap and when it arrives. The company is now selling a selection of its straps in what it calls "Drops," meaning that they're pre-made and will ship right after you place your order.
You'll only be able to get certain styles, lengths and colors, though the company does offer an approximately 20% discount for its pre-made straps compared to if you custom-ordered the same configuration.
Buy at Stroppa Lightweight camera bags Image: PolarProPolarPro has announced its RoadRunner lineup of camera bags, which aim to provide ample protection for your camera gear without being too heavy to carry.
The lineup includes 8 and 16L backpacks and three sizes of shoulder bag: a 1L sling for compact cameras like the Fujifilm X100 series, a 6L for a camera and a lens or two and a 12L for larger camera and lens combos, plus an iPad. The bags are padded, and the larger ones include dividers for arranging your gear. The backpacks also include rain covers and side-access hatches.
We took a closer look at the 6L shoulder bag, comparing it to the 7L Peak Design Outdoor Sling – you can read our thoughts on it here.
Shoulder Bags:
Buy at B&H Buy at PolarProBackpacks:
Buy at B&H Buy at PolarPro A new player in the CFexpress Type A game Photo: SanDiskSanDisk has been making CFexpress Type B cards for a while now, but it just announced that it's going to start making the smaller CFexpress Type A cards often used in Sony cameras, too. They'll be part of its Pro-Cinema line, boasting a VPG-200 rating and write speeds of up to 1650 MBps, which should be sufficient for even the highest-end video modes on cameras like the Sony a7S III, a1 II or a9 III.
Buy at B&H Buy at SanDisk Even softer light Image: ProFotoProfoto has launched a new 'White' line of softboxes, which it says will provide "softer, natural-looking illumination with reduced contrast and shadows" than more traditional softboxes. They do this by swapping the reflective silver interior for a white fabric one, which the company says will give your images a "smooth, flattering glow."
The line includes softboxes in various shapes and sizes, which include built-in speed rings that should make them relatively easy to mount onto your light. They're also compatible with some of the company's other modifiers, like grids, diffusers and masks.
Buy at B&H Buy at Amazon Buy at Profoto External Electronic variable NDElectronic variable ND filters have been around in higher-end video-focused cameras for a while now, letting you easily adjust your exposure without having to reach to the front of the camera to twist a filter ring. However, while we've seen several concepts and prototypes of an external version, they haven't been readily available to buy.
It seems like that's about to change, though. According to Newsshooter, Tilta has said it'll be launching its matte-box ready 4 x 5.65″ electronic variable ND filter this summer. The filter can cut your light by 1.5 to 5EV and can be remotely controlled by the company's Nucleus system or by using a wheel built into the frame. According to a Tilta representative who spoke to Newsshooter, the company estimates it'll cost between $400-500.
An ultra-rugged battery Image: SmallRigSmallRig has announced its X-Touch Smart Triple-Proof V-Mount Battery X99. That's a lot of information in one product name, but the main takeaway is that it's a 99Wh V-mount battery that's drop-resistant up to a height of 1.5m (4.9') and has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating. Essentially, it's designed to keep your devices powered even in rough conditions... oh, and it has a touchscreen to show various status indicators.
The battery has a variety of inputs and outputs; there are two USB C ports that you can use to recharge it or to charge other devices, a BP port, two D-Tap outputs, a USB A output and 8V and 12V outputs, just for kicks. The company says you can recharge the battery in as little as two hours via USB-C PD.
Buy at B&H Buy at SmallRig The ultimate dockAccessory makers are starting to release products that support the latest ThunderBolt 5 standard, which offers speeds up to 120Gbps, triple what its predecessor was capable of. That list now includes CalDigit, one of the most well-known companies for docks and hubs.
This week, CalDigit announced the TS5 and TS5+ – versions of its flagship dock that now use ThunderBolt 5. Both can charge your laptop at up to 140W and drive three displays. The regular TS5, which costs $369, features three ThunderBolt 5 ports, plus one for connecting to your computer, as well as a host of other ports, including 2.5Gb Ethernet. It can support external drives with read speeds up to 6200MBps, double what the TS4 could do.
Buy at B&H TS5 TS5+ ThunderBolt 5 3 + one uplink 2 + one uplink USB C 10Gbps 3 5 USB A 10Gbps 2 5 USB A 2.0 1 N/A Card readers UHS II SD, microSD UHS II SD, microSD Ethernet 2.5Gb 10Gb Dedicated display out N/A DisplayPort 2.1 Audio 3x 3.5mm (one in/out, one out, one in) 3x 3.5mm (one in/out, one out, one in)The TS5 Plus takes things even further with 10Gb Ethernet, DisplayPort 2.1 output and a grand total of 20 ports. None of that comes cheap, though, as the company plans to sell it for $499. It's also worth noting that all the extra USB ports come at the cost of one ThunderBolt 5 one.
Buy at B&H An updated tube light Image: NanliteNanlite announced the PavoTube II 6XR this week, a 25cm (10") RGB light tube. It's very similar to the PavoTube II 6C in that it has an internal battery and built-in magnets for mounting, but it adds the ability to individually program the tube's 10 LEDs to create various effects. It also supports CRMX and DMX control, which could be useful if you're on a professional set.
Compared to the 6C, the 6XR is slightly dimmer – it maxes out at 457 lumens versus 520 – and it costs $50 more, but if you need finer-grained control, it could be the way to go.
Buy at B&H A pro grading monitor Image: AsusAsus was at NAB this week showing off its recently-announced PA32UCDM ProArt QD-OLED display, which it says is "designed for professional content creators." Its 32" 4K panel can display 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while running at 240Hz for buttery-smooth responsiveness. It has a "true 10-bit" panel – not an 8-bit one with dithering – and a peak brightness of 1000 nits, which means it supports HDR standards like Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10.
You can connect to it via ThunderBolt 4 or 5, as well as HDMI 2.1, and it has a built-in USB hub. While its $1899 MSRP may seem like a lot, depending on how serious you are about monitors, for the specs it provides it actually seems like quite a good value.
Buy at B&HAccording to a new study, an older person who is concerned about having a fall is at a significantly higher risk of having a fall in the future. Researchers say that identifying and addressing this risk factor in older adults can help them stay mobile and independent for longer.
Category: Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Aging, Age-Related, Aging population, Falls prevention, Neuroscience Research Australia
Last year, BYD sold over 4.2 million cars worldwide, with over 90% of those sales occurring in China. And it doesn’t look like the company is resting on its laurels, for it has just launched its high-end Denza brand in Europe.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: BYD, China, Electric Vehicles, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi
While the Coleman brand is nearly synonymous with camping gear, the outdoors company hadn't really brought its A-game to the cooler scene. That's all changed now with the release of its Pro line of hard- and soft-sided coolers.
Royal Enfield is one of those rare brands that naturally lends itself to one-off custom builds. Case in point: the "Project Delta," a classic custom motorcycle that draws inspiration from the motorcycle culture of the 40s and 50s.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Royal Enfield, Electric Motorcycles, Custom Bikes, Art, Qualcomm
Six years ago, we first heard about a lie-flat, lightweight hammock tent called the Haven. In 2022, a tougher, heavier Haven Safari model was added to the lineup. Its designers have now switched back and gone lighter and more compact than ever, with the ultra-packable Haven Spectre.
Tags: Tree tent, Camping, Backpacking, Kickstarter
Steel measuring tape is an interesting material, in that it's rigid enough to hold its shape when extended, but flexible enough that it gives way under pressure. Scientists have taken advantage of that dual nature in a clever new robotic gripper designed for handling fragile items.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: UC San Diego, Hand, Agriculture
Honda becomes the latest Japanese automaker to debut a micro-camper concept, this one celebrating the long-running success of its CR-V crossover. It's not a van, but the CR-V makes a convincing tiny RV when upfitted with a fold-out bed, outdoor kitchen and dining area, and just the right accessories. The CR-V "Dream Pod" adventure camper wagon is part birthday present, part one-off show car, and part DIY materials list for CR-V adventurers of the future.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Honda, Concept Vehicle, Concept Cars, mini-campervan, Crossover, SUV, camper-in-a-box, Camping, Outdoors and Camping
Verge Motorcycles has broken and created a new Guinness World Record by riding its Verge TS Pro electric bike the farthest on a single charge. The record-breaking 193-mile (311 km) journey was accomplished in London on March 22.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Hubless, Electric Motorcycles, Guinness, World Records, Battery Technology
It's no secret that things in the United States are in flux right now due to the president's implementation of new tariffs. Companies across all categories are making adjustments, including plenty of photography-related businesses. Earlier this week, Blackmagic Design announced higher prices for some of its products, and now Harman Technology is doing the same.
Harman Technology is the UK-based parent company of the Ilford and Paterson brands; it's well-known for its products for analog photographers. PetaPixel reported that the company is raising prices of its film, paper and chemicals in the US in response to the tariffs. Shutter Junkies, a Texas-based photo lab, shared the information in a blog post, revealing that Ilford and Harman film and paper will increase by 11%. Liquid chemistry will go up by 12% and there will be an 11% increase on most Paterson products. It also says there will be larger increases on Paterson items manufactured in China.
"While we understand how frustrating price hikes can be, especially in a niche like film photography, these increases are a direct result of the newly imposed tariffs. HARMAN, like many manufacturers, is responding to increased costs on their end," Shutter Junkies wrote in its post. "HARMAN has expressed that they hope to reduce prices if and when trade agreements shift." It also added that Phoenix film prices and powder chemistry prices will remain unchanged.
President Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, but he didn't fully back off. The baseline 10% global tariff that President Trump announced on April 5 is still in place. Plus, he has increased tariffs on China to 125%. That's likely why we're still seeing rising prices even with the 90-day pause.
Shutter Junkies added that the price of disposable cameras would remain unchanged for the stock that they currently have. That's likely to be the case for many companies; pricing for things they already had on shelves or in store rooms will be without markups, but new stock may require a higher price. So, if you need film, you may want to stock up now.
Malta's Studio NiCHE has revealed its latest project, which transforms a centuries-old karrejja (a narrow, often vaulted passageway typical of 16th-century Maltese architecture) into a striking 28-sq-m (301-sq-ft) studio that’s equal parts history and innovation. Dubbed The Blue Room, the tiny apartment is part of a just-completed luxury guesthouse. It was designed by Martina Fenech Adami to showcase how micro-living can be both stylish and sustainable.
Category: Architecture, Lifestyle
This film Friday, we're sharing a video profile of Australian photographer Trent Mitchell. Mitchell has been a photographer for more than 20 years, working in both digital and film. He won the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize in 2015, has been featured in the International Photography Awards, Sony World Photography Awards and more, and his work has been acquired by the National Library of Australia.
Flotsam Festival – an annual surf film and photography festival hosted on the Gold Coast of Australia in May – produced the video as part of its Liquid Lens lens series. The series aims to showcase ocean-based filmmakers and photographers who capture "the waves and their riders, while illuminating their artistry, inspirations, and passion for the sea."
Mitchell started using a camera as a tool for his art process diary, but he explained that he didn't know anything about the medium, so he couldn't get good images. Then, a few years out of school, he was doing design work, and he realized photography was the perfect skill to add to what he was already doing.
In the video, Mitchell talks about balancing personal work and working for someone. He explains that he loves personal photography and that paid work has resulted from that. "You can work personal work into your job as well," he says. "They're not these separate things." Spending time on personal projects is an especially good tip for new photographers hoping to get paid work. It not only gives potential clients something to look at before you have much of a portfolio, but it can also be a critical tool for finding your style and voice.
Mitchell also touches on how he doesn't believe the common sentiment that everything has already been done. "Tomorrow's never been done, so there's heaps of opportunity to do new things." He says that while there may be themes that recur, everything's new all of the time, so there are always new things to do.
"A successful project is anyone you finish"Finally, the point that stuck out to me the most was when Mitchell explained what makes a project successful. "A successful project is anyone you finish," he said. Mitchell said he has worked on all sorts of things but has plenty of unfinished projects, so they aren't successful. As someone with plenty of unfinished projects sitting on hard drives and in portfolio boxes, this one hit especially close to home.
South Korea-based Kosmos is crowdfunding a seriously cool looking ebike that not only features a hubless front wheel, but is also foldable, and available to backers at less half its expected retail price.
Tags: ebikes, Hubless, Pedal-assisted, Kickstarter
