News

New wearable seats that allow surgeons to rest comfortably while standing for long periods could be just the thing for rail commuters during the rush hour. The Archelis is a lightweight brace that fits over trousers. It can be locked in position to allow the wearer to rest while standing. Rail passengers in the south east routinely stand...

Abandoned and unused space is a tragedy of modern urban living. Tax breaks for empty premises means there is no commercial penalty - landlords are happy to keep property boarded up and unused. It's a dire situation that stifles small businesses in the market for short-term lets and suffocates high streets. Abandoned tube stations lie...

The Freygeist electric bicycle is indistinguishable from a conventional bike, weighs only 12 kg and has a range of up to 100 km. Electric bikes are great way to extend your commuting distance and wean motorists off cars, but most look clunky and weigh too much to have mass market appeal. The Freygeist promises to change the way we see...

Imagine a bicycle cam that films everything that’s going on around you - all the time. The Ricoh Theta S camera allows you to re-live every view of the ride after the event. Have a go with the 360-degree bicycle cam yourself The effect is astounding and has to be experienced. If you play the YouTube film below, you can use the icon in the...

The Scrubba Wash Bag is a lightweight and modern take on the washboard that allows you to clean clothes wherever you are. The bag weighs less than 145 g and folds to a pocket size. The Scrubba Wash Bag is lined with hundreds of internal Scrubba nodules that efficiently clean clothes in minutes. Prices start from around £40 at thescrubba.com...

A wooden cycle helmet made entirely from forest products promises to be the world's most environmentally friendly protective headgear. While the safety benefits of cycle helmets have yet to be proved, it's a fact that the polystyrene from which they are made relies on the production of oil. Until now. Swedish designers have replaced the...

1. The VW BUDD-e VW teased the world fifteen years ago with the promise of a new breed of electric camper vans. The electric microbus concept was a successor to the iconic camper vans that helps define surf culture to this day - but it proved too costly to build. The German car making giant's latest concept, the BUDD-e forgoes the...

Quick release wheels have become standard issue on bicycles; great news when you need to change an inner tube at the roadside - not so good if you become a victim of bicycle cannibals. As locks have become stronger, parts like handlebars, seats, shifters and quick release wheels are the target for a new breed of criminal. And it’s pretty...

Ever the forward thinking aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has taken inspiration from Thunderbirds to devise an imaginative way to pre-load passengers. To allow airlines to maximise passenger numbers the French aviation giant has already hatched plans for window-less fuselages and bicycle-inspired seating. Its latest patent is aimed at...

It’s hard enough trying to compare transport modes for trips in Britain, let alone planning a journey in the rest of Europe. GoEuro packs Europe’s diverse and complex transport system into a simple app that compares European flights with coach and rail prices for the same journey. Results can be filtered to show the cheapest and fastest...