Voltaic Systems’ Shine Solar

A durable, energy-efficient lamp that doubles as a phone charger

Voltaic Systems made their debut in solar technologies over a decade ago when they introduced the first Solar Backpack—a bag we were impressed with, we announced it before there were any actually in stock. Fortunately, our eagerness allowed them to secure enough pre-orders to fund the first iteration of bags (an impressive feat of internet symbiosis in the pre-Kickstarter era). Since then, they’ve expanded their …

Test Drive: 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription

Combining intelligence and spaciousness for a comfy weekend cruiser

Self-driving cars are undoubtedly the hottest topic in the auto industry right now, and for good reason: removing human error from driving promises safer roads for all. Mercedes Benz, Google and Audi have all released their own version of an autonomous car, and even rumors surrounding Apple’s Project Titan seem to be coming true. Yet, Volvo, a car manufacturer that—with its Vision 2020—has brought roadway …

A Personal Aircraft Made From 54 Drone Propellers

With £6,000 to spare and a significant amount of free time on his hands, YouTuber Gasturbine101 fitted together 54 drone propellers to create a personal helicopter called The Swarm. The homemade aircraft can carry up to 164kg (360lbs) and can run for 10 minutes before its batteries die out. Gasturbine101 claims it was “just a bit of fun for [him]self” and it was “never intended …