Ben Coxworth

Edmonton

Writer and Managing Editor at New Atlas

Writer and Managing Editor, North America, for New Atlas (formerly Gizmag).

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Articles

Plasma-ramming device is literally a speedometer for spacecraft

5 days ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

Given the fact that satellites orbit amongst one another at thousands of miles per hour, it's vitally important to know exactly how fast they're going, in order to avoid collisions. A new device offers an improved way of doing so, and it's appropriately named the Spacecraft Speedometer. Ordinarily, satellite speed is gauged either by ground-based tracking stations using technologies such as radar and field of view sensors, or by GPS modules onboard the spacecraft themselves.
Plasma-ramming device is literally a speedometer for spacecraft

5 days ago | flipboard.com | Ben Coxworth

11 hours agoA historian recreated the awe-inspiring structure for VR. You can now get a sense of the awe-inspiring Parthenon in all its former glory thanks to a multiyear endeavor merging history and 3D computer modeling. University of Oxford archeologist Juan de Lara combined primary source information, …
New lactation pad detects acetaminophen levels in breast milk

5 days ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

Acetaminophen can be a big help to mothers suffering postpartum body pain, but it ain't great for newborn babies. An experimental new lactation pad was designed with that fact in mind, as it measures how much of the drug is present in breast milk. According to scientists at the University of Southern California (USC), overuse of acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in US children.
Swimming robot conjures its inner canine to perfect the art of dog-paddling

6 days ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

Quadruped "robot dogs" may move quite a bit like their canine counterparts on land, but they're not nearly as good at swimming. Such is not the case with a new mini-dog-bot, however, which is an expert at doing the dog-paddle. Known appropriately enough as the Amphibious Robot Dog (ARD), the four-legged device measures 300 mm long by 100 mm wide (11.8 by 3.9 in) and tips the scales at 2.25 kg (5 lb).
Edible aquatic robots could be eaten by fish to eliminate waste

6 days ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

If you're releasing a robot into the aquatic environment with no intention of retrieving it, that bot had better be biodegradable. Swiss scientists have gone a step better than that, with li'l robots that can be consumed by fish when their job is done. We've already seen a number of experimental "microbots" that can be equipped with sensors and other electronics, then turned loose to wander the wilderness while recording and/or transmitting environmental data.
Cunning cargo cart packs its own powered lifting and sliding mechanism

1 week ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

Even if you own a lift cart (which most people don't), transferring loads from it to a truck bed can still be a physically demanding task. The Lift & Slide Cart was designed to address that problem, as it does indeed allow users to both lift and slide up to 440 lb (200 kg) of cargo. Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the Lift & Slide was first envisioned by Portland, Oregon-based entrepreneur Yervant Wei when he was just 13 years old.
H3 Health Cube "self-contained connected clinic" ships to first clients

1 week ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

During the pandemic, most of us got used to medical consultations being performed via the phone or Zoom. That said, there are still times when diagnostic devices need to be used … which is where the H3 Health Cube is designed to come in. Editor's note: Readers often ask us for follow-ups on memorable stories. What has happened to this story over the years? This article was originally published in 2022 but has been re-edited and updated with new information current as of May, 2025.
CargoMate is a front rack when you need one, and gone when you don't

1 week ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

There's no denying that front racks are great for carrying cargo, but the things do needlessly clutter your bike up when not in use. That's where the CargoMate comes in, as it pops on and off of your handlebars in a claimed 30 seconds. Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, the CargoMate is made by German cycling gear company The Outsider Team. Among other things, the firm previously brought us the Flectr Lubri Disc chain lubrication device.
New technique tattoos tardigrades for future micro-robot applications

1 week ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

If you're going to try "tattooing" a microscopic animal, it would make sense to select one of the toughest creatures on the planet. That's exactly what scientists have done with the tardigrade, and the tech they used could have some valuable real-world applications. Also known as water bears and moss piglets, tardigrades are pudgy eight-legged micro-animals that typically grow no larger than half a millimeter in length.
NXS kit converts cable derailleurs to wireless, for under $80

1 week ago | newatlas.com | Ben Coxworth

While wireless derailleurs may offer fast and precise electronic shifting, the things ain't cheap. That's where the NXS system comes in, as it's promised to make existing cable-actuated mountain bike derailleurs wireless for less than eighty dollars. Presently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, NXS is manufactured by US startup OG Bikeworks. The current 1X version of the system is claimed to be compatible with all makes and models of cable-actuated mountain bike drivetrains.