Particles made from purified sand gain momentum as obesity treatment

[New Atlas logo]( Medical [Particles made from purified sand gain momentum as obesity treatment]( [A new study has further highlighted the potential of porous particles made from purified sand for altering the body's uptake of fats and sugars]( A new study from the University of South Australia has bolstered the potential of silica particles to counter obesity, by showing how they block enzyme activity to hamper the body’s uptake of fats and sugars. [Read more]( Sponsored Content [Get News About the Latest Tech Before Anyone Else]( Join 450K people who read Emerging Tech Brew - the 3-times-a-week newsletter delivering the latest tech news impacting you and your future. The best part? It’s 100% free and only takes 5 minutes to read so there’s really no reason not to try it. [Read more]( Photography [Talk to the flipper! The Comedy Wildlife Photo Award finalists]( ["Talk To The Fin!". Gentoo Penguin, Falkland Islands]( From a shy raccoon waving hello, to a penguin that's had enough of its friend's squawking, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Award finalists have again delivered a most entertaining array of hilarious animal antics. [Read more]( Medical [ARC surgical needle uses a steerable tip to hit targets]( [A microscope image of the ARC needle, showing its beveled rigid outer tube and its flexible articulated inner tube]( Surgeons are increasingly turning to less-invasive techniques, such as utilizing long, thin needles – instead of scalpels – to access targets within the body. A new needle, with a steerable tip, could make such procedures faster and easier. [Read more]( Military [What is a dirty bomb and what do you do if one goes off?]( [Russia claims that Ukraine is planning to detonate a dirty bomb]( Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his NATO counterparts that Ukraine was planning to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb to discredit Russia. The allegation raises the question, what is a dirty bomb and how dangerous is one. [Read more]( Environment [Plastic recycling labeled "a myth" as US rates sink to 5%]( [A new report suggests recycling rates for plastic waste were as low as 5% in 2021 in the US]( A new report has looked at activity at a broad range of recycling facilities across the US and found that the vast majority of plastic waste generated by households wound up in landfill, with less than 5% actually recycled. [Read more]( Automotive [Amstervan dual-lounger mini camper puts more R&R into RV life]( [Amstervan reimagines a new mini-camper layout inside a Renault Trafic]( Amstervan has put its own spin on the mini-camper, laying things out in a way that invites the outdoors in. It compares its dual-lounger layout to a cozy coffee shop, but it gives us more of a poolside cabana vibe. [Read more]( Bicycles [FLX powers through the dirt on carbon-framed full-suspension eMTB]( [The Weapon X features a 750-W Bafang mid-motor and 840-Wh downtube battery for up to 28 mph of assist and 70 miles of range]( The folks behind the Babymaker electric roadbike have returned to Indiegogo to launch a carbon-framed eMTB called the Weapon X, which comes packing a big 48-V battery, a 750-W mid-mount motor and DVO suspension front and back. [Read more]( Science [Children may get a cognitive boost from playing video games]( [New research has looked at cognitive tests and brain imaging of children who played three hours per day of video games, compared to children who didn't game at all]( A compelling new study suggests there may be some cognitive benefits associated with playing video games. The research found children that regularly play video games performed better on some cognitive tests compared to non-gaming children. [Read more]( Robotics [Trunk-inspired robot gripper can pinch and grab objects small and large]( [Inspired by the finger-like tips of an elephant's trunk, the KIMM gripper uses a combination of claw-like grasping with suction capabilities to grab, hold and lift objects of varying shape and size]( The flexible "fingers" at the tip of an elephant's trunk have provided the inspiration for a robotic gripper capable of picking up and holding onto a variety of objects both large and small – from a thin acupuncture needle to a large packaging box. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Match with a licensed therapist for online sessions via BetterHelp]( Millions of people have joined BetterHelp to find the right therapist for them, without having to leave home. The affordable online platform offers live video and phone sessions, plus unlimited messaging. Start with 25 percent off your first month. [Read more]( Science [Listen to the spooky soundscape of Earth's magnetic field]( [An artist's impression of the Earth's magnetic field, which has now been converted into music]( The Earth’s magnetic field isn't something we can usually see, feel or hear. That last point has now changed though, as scientists and musicians have worked together to convert magnetic field data into sound – with spooky results. [Read more]( Science [Britain's oldest human genomes reveal cannibals and hunter-gatherers]( [Samples of the ancient bones from which the oldest human genomes in Britain were taken]( Scientists have sequenced the genomes of two ancient skeletons and found the oldest human DNA in the British isles. The data reveals the story of two separate migrations of early humans into what is now the UK, and how these different cultures lived. [Read more]( Around The Home [SwitchBot Blind Tilt brings programmable remote control to window blinds]( [SwitchBot Blind Tilt is presently on Kickstarter]( Three years ago we heard about SwitchBot Curtain, that allows users to open their curtains either on a programmed schedule or by remote control. Well, the SwitchBot company is now back with Blind Tilt, which does the same thing for Venetian blinds. [Read more]( Science [Insect swarms can generate as much static electricity as a storm cloud]( [A new study finds that swarming honeybees can generate enough static electricity to change the atmospheric electric field]( New research shows that swarms of insects like bees and locusts can actually produce atmospheric electric charges. By measuring the extent of this influence, the team found that large swarms could produce as much charge as a storm cloud. 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