Dow Jones futures rose slightly early Friday, while S&P 500 futures and especially Nasdaq futures fell. The May jobs report is on tap before the open. S&P Dow Jones Indices announced late Thursday that it won’t fast track SpaceX (SPCX) and other upcoming megacap IPOs such as Anthropic and OpenAI into the benchmark index. The stock market saw the Dow… Copyright ©2026 Investor’s Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 source

While financial services firms continue to accelerate AI adoption, governance maturity is lagging. Legacy frameworks around models, data, and technology were not designed for today’s AI landscape: probabilistic models, opaque third-party dependencies, and, increasingly, autonomous agentic systems. As a result, firms attempting to scale AI using traditional governance approaches may find themselves exposed to risks that are difficult to detect, quantify, or control. Weak AI governance can translate directly into misinformed investment decisions, security vulnerabilities, and ultimately, financial and reputational losses. Conversely, firms that build effective governance frameworks can better align AI with business objectives, manage downside risks, and create a more durable competitive advantage. To address this challenge, I propose a two-tiered AI governance framework that integrates program-level oversight with use-case-specific controls. Much like the complementary top-down and bottom-up approaches in investing, this structure enables both consistency at scale and precision in execution. The program-level component centers on three core actions: Discover your AI assets in order to govern them effectively Establish enterprise-level governance structures and mechanisms Focus enterprise-level governance on a few critical domains Discover: A foundational step is establishing comprehensive inventories of AI assets, use cases and agents. These will serve as the building blocks for governance processes at both the program level and the use case level and should be linked into enterprise’s overarching governance and risk management mechanisms and tools. As we look to the future, it’s becoming critical to apply some of the same institutional and organizational processes to managing AI agents that we commonly apply to managing people, which is near impossible without these inventories in place. Establish: Oversight mechanisms fall into this category including policy and procedures, risk appetite statements, chain of authority and escalation, and the creation of an enterprise AI literacy program. These elements define the “rules of the road” and act as a first line of defense against internal and external pressures that will inevitably arise during AI implementation. Focus: The rapid proliferation of AI governance frameworks and controls can create the impression that effective governance requires a “boil the ocean” approach. In practice, this is neither feasible nor necessary. AI governance should instead be deliberately scoped and aligned with an organization’s specific risk profile, operating model, and strategic priorities. The objective is not completeness, but effectiveness. source

The latest camper from Mammoth Overland takes two of the brand’s most creative launches of the recent past and fuses them together into a prepper-grade wilderness and apocalypse survival safe room built for immediate escape. Whether you’re trying to keep away apex predators on regular camping or hunting expeditions, or getting out of dodge during a rapidly evolving “extinction level event,” the Mammoth XLE might be the best civilian vessel in the world to have hitched up to your 4×4. No one can ever accuse Mammoth Overland of being a copycat. With roots in aviation, the Washington-based builder has released some of the market’s most distinctive go-anywhere small camper trailers, one after another. Even its most basic inaugural micro-camper was a unique piece of engineering sold in “not so standard spec.” From there, it only distinguished itself more with offerings like the winterproof WLY, the hard-walled SKL rooftop cabin, the bear-macing ELE pod and the family-sized TL high-rise. Mammoth’s newest offering takes those last two entries and combines them into a highly original piece of survival kit we don’t expect anyone to mimic. It’s a camper built to fully protect a family against virtually any and every threat short of an immediate, unstoppable Earth-ending crisis. The company has a little fun with letters, calling this new work the XLE, which stands for “Xtinction Level Escape” while also alluding to the “XL” size of its largest trailer to date. The Tall Boy in white and XLE in urban camo with bright-orange lettering Mammoth Overland Mammoth president Scott Taylor’s vision was to create an ELE-level survival trailer large enough to live comfortably in … because it may have to play host for more than just a brief, leisurely stay off-grid. In the process, the Mammoth team managed to create something even crazier than the original ELE, or “Extinction Level Event” camper trailer. Mammoth first introduced the TL “Tall Boy” at Overland Expo West 2024, a year after it revealed the wildly over-equipped ELE. The company’s take on a family camper, the TL measures 9 feet (2.7 m) tall to fit in a 6.3-foot-high (1.9-m) standing interior pair. The 16.4-ft-long (5-m) trailer also fits in a pair of stacked bunk beds and a king-size master bed to sleep four adults. Unlike Mammoth’s traditional small box trailers, the TL also includes a bathroom inside. With the XLE, Mammoth converts the basic TL shell into a singularly focused prepper-mobile specced out above and beyond the ELE. It has much more livable space for comfortably enjoying the spoils of the airtight post-apocalyptic escape plan friends, family and foes previously dismissed as “debilitating paranoia.” Joke’s on them. For fleeing the likes of active war zones and relentless mercenaries hot on your tracks (and, of course, living to tell the tale), Mammoth bulletproofs all the windows and protects them from closer blunt force – or hot-firing shrapnel – with MOLLE-style blast shields. The windows are made from 1-in-thick bulletproof glass, further protected by MOLLE style blast shields Mammoth Overland At 18.4 feet (5.6 m), the XLE measures almost two full feet (610 cm) longer than the TL, largely because of the addition of a storage box on the tongue and relocation of the two full-size spare tires to the rear wall. The trailer is crafted with an aircraft-grade aluminum construction that extends well beyond the numeric designation of its light, tough aluminum and references the brand’s resume of building actual airplanes at parent company Vashon Aircraft. The XLE’s aluminum body sits atop a powder-coated steel chassis cushioned via a Timbren independent axle-less suspension at each wheel. The trailer clears an impressive 22 inches (56 cm) of ground below on a set of 33-in BFGoodrich HD-Terrain tires. The XLE is clearly built to follow a lifted and kitted Wrangler or Tacoma on a treacherous escape route to temporary safety, but threats don’t merely disappear on arrival. Which is okay, because the XLE serves as something of an impenetrable panic room and command center once parked. Much of the interior kit is secured around the primary king-size bed for easy accessMammoth Overland The XLE”s pressurized interior packs dual medical-grade HEPA air filters to keep your lungs filled with clean O2, while a Geiger counter keeps tabs on potential radioactivity in the vicinity. The bank-like rear vault door and its multi-point locking system create a secure, breach-resistant barrier between the threats outside and the cozy safe house inside. As for nearby human and animal threats, the 360-degree CCTV surveillance system keeps an eye out, delivering 24-hour monitoring capability with integrated night vision. Should a threat show up, occupants have a full escalation suite ranging from deterrent to deadly. The remote-activated sonic defense system provides a non-lethal but powerful level of defense, which owners can further escalate via an available remote-deploy 37-mm flare launching system that reloads from inside the trailer. Four remote-controlled bear spray canisters fire steady streams of predator-neutralizing spray, which will be as effective on humans as grizzlies. Why store your long-range rifle where you can’t get to it if and when you need to? Mammoth puts it right over the bedMammoth Overland Escalating to the last defensive resort, Mammoth tacks on long-range rifle storage above both sides of the king-size bed for immediate access. Other firearms can be stored away in the standard gun safe. And should you have to cut and run as a last-resort strategic maneuver, a rapid-access escape hatch on the roof allows you to get out of the trailer without walking right through the main entry door and into a potential ambush. That hatch is affixed between two stand-on platform racks that double as observation decks. The XLE is built to survive first and foremost, but it’s also optimized for living comfortably after (or while) getting through the worst of it. It’ll be very close quarters for hunkering down with more than two people, but the trailer still has the TL’s king bed/dual-bunk layout for sheltering a family of four or four adults.

Rexona is bringing football fever onto Singapore’s MRT network with the launch of the “Coolest football moments museum train”, an immersive six-cabin moving gallery created in celebration of its FIFA World Cup 2026 sponsorship. Running from 10 June to 19 July 2026, the activation, created in collaboration with Stellar Ace, will operate as a regular MRT service along the East-West and North-South lines, with no fixed schedule. Commuters may encounter the train at any station, turning an everyday journey into a football-themed brand experience. The campaign is led by Rexona men arctic rush, the brand’s new anti-perspirant range designed to deliver instant cooling of up to -20°C. Centred on the idea of “keeping cool under pressure”, the museum train showcases some of football’s most composed and memorable moments, linking the sport’s high-stakes intensity with Rexona’s cooling proposition. Don’t miss: The biggest football rivalry this season might be in your neighbourhood  The MRT network was chosen for the activation because of its daily reach and relevance, allowing the brand to connect with commuters as part of their everyday journeys across Singapore, according to Stellar Ace. The media arm of SMRT said the intent, together with Rexona, was to bring the energy, emotion and excitement of football closer to fans in a way that felt accessible and naturally integrated into the daily commute. Transit spaces such as train cabins, platforms and stations offer high-dwell and high-visibility environments where brands can create memorable moments beyond traditional advertising, Stellar Ace added. For the activation, the train has been transformed into a six-cabin editorial-style museum. Five cabins spotlight footballing nations with strong World Cup heritage — Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France and Spain — with each cabin featuring country-inspired visuals, themed seating, frozen-effect flooring, illustrated panels and stories of comebacks, last-minute victories and defining moments of composure. The sixth cabin pays tribute to Singapore’s footballing spirit, highlighting the passion of local fans and the country’s ongoing football journey. The football-themed museum on rail concept train was designed to create a memorable experience for commuters, Stellar Ace said. Spanning six train cabins, the moving museum incorporates interactive touchpoints across all in-train panels to invite commuters to test their football knowledge, spark conversations and create moments of discovery. As part of the campaign, Rexona is also rolling out a nationwide trivia challenge. Commuters can scan a QR code onboard to take part in football trivia and receive a personal “Chill factor” score. Participants can submit their results for a chance to win tickets to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026, as well as Rexona products and merchandise. They are also encouraged to share their scores on social media. Shermaine Chen, head of marketing, Unilever Singapore, said the campaign brings to life the composure that defines football’s greatest moments.  “The greatest moments in football have always come down to keeping cool when it matters most. As official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Rexona is bringing that spirit to life on Singapore’s MRT, celebrating composure in the beautiful game, paying tribute to our own football story, and delivering the cool, on and off the pitch,” said Chen. In tandem, Tony Heng, president, Stellar Ace, said “By bringing iconic football moments directly to commuters, Stellar Ace is transforming everyday journeys into opportunities for discovery, engagement and celebration.” “As excitement builds up, we hope this gives fans and commuters alike a chance to experience the energy, emotion and enduring appeal of football in a fresh and memorable way,” he added.  For Stellar Ace and Rexona, success will be measured through a combination of reach, engagement and brand impact. Stellar Ace said it will gather data points from commuters through KOL feedback and a brand lift study to provide deeper insights into key brand metrics such as awareness, recall, message association, consideration and overall campaign resonance. While the MRT network provides audience scale and visibility, Stellar Ace said the true measure of success lies in how effectively the campaign resonates with commuters and enhances their journey experience. The activation also supports the launch of Rexona men arctic rush, which features the brand’s latest cooling technology. Stellar Ace said it sees strong potential for more immersive and themed train experiences in the future, adding that it is constantly exploring new and creative ways to engage commuters across the MRT transit network. Rexona is not the only brand in Singapore going all out for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Lenovo Singapore has appointed local football icon Fandi Ahmad as its official brand ambassador as it ramps up its own World Cup push, tied to its role as official technology partner of the tournament. The brand is rolling out a series of fan experiences, creator-led activations and community initiatives, including the “Lenovo Re:Match” experience store at *SCAPE, appearances by Fandi and Irfan Fandi, live screening hubs at CHIJMES and Capitol Singapore, an AI photobooth that turns fans into digital footballer avatars, and prize-led engagement mechanics such as its “Spend & score” campaign. Lenovo is also extending its football presence to Resorts World Sentosa through the Hypebeast Cup Singapore, while piloting a year-long Lenovo AI Foundry collaboration with ITE focused on applied sports technology. Changi Airport is also tapping into football fever with a campaign centred on Singapore football talent, free match screenings and football-themed activities across its terminals. Its new film, “Where the world comes to play”, features Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun, head coach Gavin Lee, national players Jacob Mahler, Shawal Anuar, Kyoga Nakamura and Tyan Foong, with a cameo by Fandi, as it follows a football relay through Changi Airport and Jewel landmarks such as the Jewel Rain Vortex, The Wonderfall and Dreamscape. Beyond the film, fans can catch free live screenings from 12 June to 20 July at Terminal 3 and transit TV lounges, take part in the “Football champions trail” for shopping and dining rewards, and join football-themed games in transit areas for a chance to win prizes, as the airport positions itself as a gathering point for travellers,

Most of nature – including humans – is symmetrical, and as creations reflect their creators, many robots we create today feature this symmetry, with the general assumption that symmetry is best. Researchers at Duke University have challenged that assumption with Argus, a sea-urchin-like robot that ditches conventional symmetry altogether. The robot has no front or back and is covered in 20 legs and 20 eyes, each pointing in nearly every direction, giving it the appearance of something that escaped from a mathematics laboratory. However, thanks to this unconventional build, Argus can traverse a wide range of terrains, move with equal ease in almost any direction, and shrug off damage that would cripple many robots. Argus can continue rolling even when as many as three of its legs are disabledDuke University For decades, we have treated symmetry in robotics as a matter of shape. After all, most animals, which are the inspiration for many robots, are symmetrical. But what if shape isn’t the most important type of symmetry? What if symmetry were better defined by how uniformly a robot can move, not how it looks? This question led Duke researchers to develop a new design principle they call dynamic symmetry, or dynamic isotropy. Instead of measuring how balanced a robot’s body appears, the concept measures how well a robot can accelerate itself in every direction. In simple terms, can it move north, south, east, west, up, or down with roughly the same ease? Think of a robot that can walk back and forth and sideways with equal ease, without having to reorient. Loose sand is no problem for ArgusDuke University “Most robotics research has framed symmetry as a question about the body, but we argue that the more powerful symmetry is at the level of what the robot can do,” says Asst. Prof. Boyuan Chen, leader of the research. “When a robot can accelerate equally well in every direction, it stops needing to face the world in any particular way. Forward and backward become the same. Left and right become the same. The whole problem of robot control changes character.” To achieve this omnidirectional movement, the researchers simulated more than 1,500 robot morphologies, seeking a body plan that maximized dynamic symmetry. The winning design was the, frankly, weird-looking Argus. Argus consists of 20 modular telescoping legs radiating from a central body. Each leg is mounted at a vertex of a regular dodecahedron, a twelve-faced geometric shape. This arrangement produces an unusually even distribution of forces around the robot, allowing it to generate movement from almost any direction without needing to reorient itself first. “Watching Argus move is unlike watching any other robot we’ve worked with,” says Jiaxun Liu, co-first author and PhD student in Duke’s General Robotics Lab. “The first time we saw it navigate among trees and rough terrain, even under heavy collisions, we knew this was something different.” Each telescoping leg is equipped with a depth cameraDuke University The legs do more than provide locomotion. Each one carries a depth camera, giving the robot what the researchers describe as “whole-body perception.” While traditional robots typically perceive the world through a head-mounted camera or a limited set of sensors, Argus effectively sees through its entire body. Wherever an obstacle appears, chances are one of its 20 cameras is already looking at it. Thanks to these features, the robot can roll across concrete, grass, sand, wet surfaces, tree bark, dense vegetation, and forest trails, regardless of which side happens to be facing forward. In fact, the concept of “forward” barely applies to Argus at all. It simply moves in whichever direction is most convenient. The robot also proved surprisingly resilient during testing. Researchers deliberately pushed it, knocked it off balance, and damaged parts of the system. Argus rapidly stabilized itself after collisions and continued moving even when three of its legs were disabled. It also carried a 10-lb (4.5-kg) payload at nearly full speed, tracked and pushed a 3-ft (91.4-cm) cube while rolling, and even climbed vertically between closely spaced walls by alternately bracing and extending different groups of legs. Meet Argus: An Omnidirectional, Sea-Urchin-Like Robot That Defies Traditional Designs Argus is the latest in an emerging line of robotics that moves away from traditional shapes toward shapes that mathematical analysis proves are optimal, regardless of their appearance. For instance, we recently covered an AI-evolved adaptable robot that you could literally cut in half, and it would still function. Now, these robots still have a long way to go before they reach real-word use, and are not automatically the robots of the future. They simply aim to prove that mathematics, not necessarily biology, should be at the wheel in the evolution of robot designs. Argus, for example, is what they call an “existence proof,” evidence that designing around dynamic symmetry could produce real-world benefits. The team hopes the principle can eventually be applied to everything from search-and-rescue systems and planetary exploration robots to autonomous machines operating in low-gravity environments. Details of the team’s work are published in the journal Science Robotics. Source: Duke University source

Shafqat Ahrar Jaigirdar, Sheffield Hallam University/ The Conversation People who don’t like to work out will sometimes joke that they’re “allergic” to exercise. But what many don’t realise is that an allergy to exercise is a real thing – and it can be dangerous if not caught in time. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a rarely heard-of severe allergic reaction to moderate exercise. It can cause intense itching all over the body, followed rapidly by an inability to breathe. It’s estimated that between 2.3% and 5% of all cases of anaphylaxis globally are triggered by exercise. EIA was first identified in the 1970s by doctors in Colorado after a 30-year-old long-distance runner was hospitalised multiple times, a few days apart, while he was out on a run. Further testing revealed that his blood contained all the tell-tale signatures of anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction). Intrigued, they investigated further and quickly discovered that the runner only developed allergic symptoms when he exercised after eating seafood. When he didn’t eat seafood before exercise, he had no symptoms. It’s now well established that not all cases of EIA are triggered by food allergens. This subtype is known specifically as food-dependent EIA. It’s commonly triggered by foods such as shellfish, nuts, eggs, milk and wheat. But EIA symptoms can also arise when exercise follows exposure to a range of other factors, including certain medications, infections, hormonal changes, alcohol consumption or even environmental triggers such as pollen. In some cases, exercise alone triggers a reaction. Symptoms of EIA are similar to those seen with other allergic reactions. An itchy rash, swelling of the lips, tingling mouth and even vomiting after exercise have all been reported. In severe cases, it can also result in problems with breathing and circulation. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis appears to most commonly be triggered by aerobic exercise – such as jogging, football, dancing and even gardening. EIA can occur equally across all ages and sexes but tends to be first diagnosed in young adulthood. One study which followed patients diagnosed with EIA over a period of ten years found that most patients’ symptoms reduced or stabilised over time. However, this could be due to participants taking precautions to reduce triggers – such as not performing vigorous exercise. Exercise allergy Despite years of research, the exact cause of exercise-induced anaphylaxis remains unclear. Initially, scientists and doctors suggested it was just a food allergy. But studies since have demonstrated otherwise. The closest we have come to understanding the cause of EIA comes from recent oral immunotherapy trials, where people allergic to foods such as peanuts or wheat were given small doses of the food daily to train their immune system to tolerate the food. It was found that this immune training could be undone if the same low dose of food was eaten followed by exercise – resulting in an allergic reaction. In fact, scientists calculated that eating roughly half as much food could still trigger an allergic reaction when followed by exercise. Researchers have also reported cases of people with no known allergies developing repeated anaphylaxis following moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise. This raises the possibility that an unknown or hidden allergen is involved, or that exercise itself can act as the trigger. Interestingly, when looking at the participants in the oral immunotherapy study, moderate to vigorous exercise didn’t always trigger anaphylaxis – even when they ate the food that normally triggered an allergic reaction before exercising. This shows us that it can be difficult to predict when EIA will hit. It also suggests that additional, currently unidentified factors may also play a role in provoking symptoms. However, most scientists currently believe that a type of immune cell, called a mast cell, plays a central role in exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Mast cells release chemicals into the bloodstream, including histamine. Under normal circumstances, histamine helps control blood flow, mucus production and opening of the airways to protect us from infection or injury. But in allergic reactions, histamine is responsible for inducing common symptoms such as itching, flushing and a narrowing of the airways. In cases of EIA, mast cells appear to be activated at the wrong time, causing a sudden surge of histamine that constricts the airways and blood vessels, resulting in anaphylaxis. The main aim with treating exercise-induced anaphylaxis is to reduce both the severity and the frequency of reactions. This is usually achieved through behavioural changes, such as starting with low-intensity activity and gradually increasing intensity to identify personal limits. For people with a known allergy, experts recommend avoiding exercise for at least four hours after exposure to the trigger. Carrying an adrenaline auto-injector, such as an EpiPen, at all times is essential if you’ve been diagnosed with EIA. Exercising with a partner who can recognise symptoms and intervene if needed is also strongly advised. Crucially, exercise should be stopped immediately at the first sign of symptoms. In those with milder reactions, antihistamines may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms. The good news is that most people diagnosed with EIA manage to live relatively normal, active lives through a combination of awareness, behavioural adjustments and medication. But it’s important to stay prepared if this has ever happened to you, so that a healthy habit doesn’t turn into a medical emergency. Shafqat Ahrar Jaigirdar, Lecturer in Immunology, Sheffield Hallam University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. source

Dow Jones futures will open Sunday evening, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures. President Donald Trump said a U.S.-Iran deal will “get signed tomorrow.” The Federal Reserve will hold its first meeting under new Chairman Kevin Warsh on June 16-17. The stock market had a wild week amid AI sentiment shifts, the SpaceX IPO and Iran news. The… Copyright ©2026 Investor’s Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 source

We. Communications Singapore has been appointed as the public relations agency of record for Agoda (Corporate).  As part of the appointment, We. Communications will support Agoda across a range of communications functions, including media relations, regional campaigns and content development. The remit will focus on enhancing Agoda’s visibility among corporate audiences across Asia Pacific, as the travel and technology landscape continues to evolve across the region. The partnership will see We. Communications bring its regional communications expertise and understanding of the travel and technology sectors to Agoda’s corporate communications efforts. It also comes at a time when inter-Asia travel is becoming an increasingly important focus for the region’s travel industry. Don’t miss: Sentosa names PR agency  In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, We. Communications Singapore said it has been working with Agoda since earlier this year and is already supporting communications programmes across the region. “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Agoda and look forward to continuing to build on the work already underway,” it added.  The appointment adds to We. Communications’ portfolio of regional communications work, particularly in sectors where technology, consumer behaviour and market transformation intersect. For Agoda, the appointment comes as travel brands continue to navigate shifting consumer demand, growing digital adoption and intensifying competition across Asia Pacific. With travel patterns increasingly shaped by regional movement and digital-first booking behaviour, corporate communications has become a key lever for travel technology companies looking to build trust, visibility and relevance among business and industry audiences. Agoda, which is headquartered in Singapore, is a digital travel platform offering accommodation, flights and travel-related services. The company has a strong presence across Asia Pacific, a region that remains central to both its brand and business growth. Meanwhile Agoda in Malaysia has appointed Alpha Story as its PR agency, tasking the agency with supporting traditional PR and content creation on a 1+1 contract.  Related articles:  Agoda and Philippine tourism authorities launch joint travel marketing push  Agoda unveils 4,000-strong Bangkok tech hub to drive regional innovation  Agoda, Artotel Group unveil flagship store to capture intra-Asia travel surge  source

I’m a bit of a flashlight hoarder. Bike lights, work lights, EDC lights, head lamps, even night vision … I have far too many, but try as I might, I can’t seem to get rid of them. Olight asked if I wanted to review the ArkPro and the Baton 4, and my eyes turned to saucers. Olight sent me all three versions of the ArkPro (Ultra, Standard, Lite) and both of the Baton lights (Ultra and Pro). And for full transparency, we did not get paid to write this, but we will earn commission should you decide to buy one using our links. That doesn’t affect my thoughts below. For the main purposes of this review, I’m going to talk mostly about the Ultra versions of each. Right off the bat, this little ArkPro torch is different: it’s rectangular, which sounds weird right up until you actually hold it, and it just feels right. Not to mention how much more comfortable it is in your pocket, right up to the point you forget it’s even in there. It’s about 4.9 inches (124 mm) long and weighs in at 4.23 ounces (120 g), though the ArkPro Lite version is about a quarter-inch shorter (6.4 mm). The ArkPro Ultra is a perfect fit in my handJS @ New Atlas It’s made from “OAL,” which is some sort of proprietary aluminum that Olight says is super-duper tough. Olight states that it’s “1.73x harder than 6061 aluminum, 1.73x more tensile strength than TA2 titanium, and 1.44x the yield strength of TA2 titanium.” I have no means of verifying any of those claims, but I can tell you that it feels strong, it’s lightweight, and it’s weirdly hard to scratch. I watched SensiblePrepper take a key, knife, and drill bit to ’em in a torture test. Looked like a pass to me. It’s bright. The Ultra is cracking out a 1,700-lumen rating in “Turbo” flood mode for 3 minutes before it steps down to standard “high” mode at 520 lumens for another 140 mins. That’s real bright. Even at 520 lumens. And it’s equally dim when you need dim with its “moonlight” mode, which is a single lumen’s worth of light that’ll last 14 days on a single charge. That’s proper emergency-light status – like being stuck in a pitch-black flooded cave, waiting for rescue … one lumen is a lot more comforting than none. I tried to lock exposure on my phone’s camera to keep everything level. As you can see, the ArkPro Ultra is brighter overall, but more importantly, the Ultra has 10,640 candela whereas the Lite is 2,225 candela … meaning the Ultra has over double the throw than the LiteJS @ New Atlas The ArkPro (non-Ultra) is rated to 1,500 lumens max, while the cheapest of the line, the ArkPro Lite, still cracks out a solid 1,200 lumens in Turbo. If you know you’re not going to be around a charger but still need a fair bit of light, high mode will last you between 125 and 155 minutes – mostly depending on spot vs flood – across all three ArkPro models. They will get a little toasty on the business end when you’ve got it bright. Fortunately, the ArkPro has a button lockout to prevent accidental heating of your giblets via your pockets. The ArkPro and ArkPro Ultra both feature UV light, spot, flood, and green laser modes. Both the UV and the green laser have two levels of brightness adjustability, while the spot and flood have five levels, plus a strobe feature. The ArkPro Lite, on the other hand, drops both the laser and the dedicated flood mode in favor of a red light. I do love the red light that’s only on the ArkPro Lite modelJS @ New Atlas It’s a pity that the Ultra and the standard model skipped the red light. A good red beam genuinely comes in handy for keeping your night vision while out in the wild, or even just for trying not to disturb your fellow campers when you wake up at 3 AM to water a tree. The red light alone makes the cheapest of the three lights maybe the best option if you don’t need a laser or flood beam. Sure, it’s less lumens overall, but I sure do like that red light. All three versions have a UV light, which is a lot of fun, right up until you use it to inspect the bathroom of the $200-a-night hotel you’re staying at. Then it’s much less fun … sometimes you’re just better off not knowing. Where it is fun, on the other hand, is snipe hunting with the kids at night. So far, we’ve only found jellyfish and scorpions. Oh, and I found where the leak in my car’s AC was coming from, too. The shoreline is pretty fun with the ArkPro’s UV light. I wish it were a little brighter/stronger, but it’s still good fun.JS @ New Atlas The side button on the two pricier ArkPro models is for the green laser. It’s not the most powerful green laser I’ve ever used, but it’s still good enough to see in the daylight for jobsite use, etc., let alone for pointing out which stars and constellations you’re telling your kid about on a camping trip. Outside of testing how good the laser is, I haven’t really had any uses for it, but it’s neat to have. It also works while using the spot, flood, or UV beam. I guess that’s cool? Um … yeah, that’s a laser on the ArkPro and ArkPro UltraJS @ New Atlas One thing that I don’t really care for is the magnetic charger – Olight’s proprietary magnetic puck that snaps to the bottom of the also-magnetic flashlight to charge. I may be the outlier on this too. But one drop of the flashlight into sand or dirt and it’s going to pick up iron dust and grit stuck to the bottom of it. That

Usually, when you’d talk about beginner motorcycles, you’d think of lightweight, low-speed, and most importantly, low-cost options – of which there are plenty. In the electric segment, although prices jump a bit compared to their ICE counterparts, entry-level e-motos largely follow the same script. Not this one, though. For starters, the Novus One is priced at €31,951.50 (around US$38,000). That’s not the kind of money I see beginner riders shelling out for a motorcycle. Granted, there’s a more affordable “Founder’s Edition” that costs €25,347 (around $30,000), but even that’s not exactly cheap by any stretch of the imagination. So what’s happening here? Is there some kind of tech we’re seeing for the first time on motorcycles? Or the use of precious metals that we’re not aware of? The Novus One boasts a 0–30 mph time of under 2 secondsNovus Well, let’s look at all that the motorcycle offers. For starters, the Novus One is positioned between an e-bike, a scooter, and a motorcycle. It apparently combines the lightness of an e-bike, the maneuverability of a scooter, and the performance of a motorcycle. The design is what grabs your attention at first sight. That hollow body does indeed look cool, but it’s not like we haven’t seen it before. What’s definitely cool is the fact that the monocoque frame, swingarm, fork, and rims are all made entirely of carbon fiber. It doesn’t sport any fairing like a traditional motorcycle, following what Novus calls a “one-piece” design language. The frame itself weighs just 15 lb (6.9 kg) while being more rigid than conventional steel or aluminum frames. That results in the motorcycle weighing a total of 266 lb (121 kg). Powering the One is a high-torque (295 lb-ft / 400 Nm) transverse flux hub motor from GKN, which boasts “unequalled torque density and efficiency.” This essentially translates to performance that “easily surpasses comparable 125cc machines,” capable of speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) and a 0–30 mph (48 km/h) time of under 2 seconds. Charging through a fast charger takes you from 0 to 80% in 1.5 hoursNovus That motor is paired to a 5.5-kW battery that offers anywhere between 80 and 93 miles (130 and 150 km) of range. As for charge times, you can go from 0 to 80% in 1.5 hours through fast charging, or 2.5 hours through a basic charger. Keep in mind, Novus offers the One in two trims: The Base model that’s limited to producing 7 kW (peak) of power, with a top speed of 56 mph (90 km/h) and a range of up to 193 miles (50 km). Then, there’s the God, which produces up to 25 kW of power for a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a range of about 83 miles (135 km) per charge. What’s fascinating is that the Novus One’s actual performance lands surprisingly close to bikes costing one-third as much. An $8,000 Ryvid Anthem or a $10,000 Maeving RM1S will deliver broadly similar urban usability, while the $12,500 Zero FXE absolutely demolishes it on power-per-dollar. Step up to the $10,000 LiveWire S2 Del Mar, and you’re looking at more than double the horsepower for almost less than a quarter of the money. The Novus One weighs all of 266 lb (121 kg)Novus Part of that expansive cost is down to one key reason. Everything from development, design, and assembly is done in Braunschweig, Germany. Then, most of the components are predominantly sourced from Europe: carbon fiber from Austria, the motor from Switzerland, the chassis from Belgium and Italy, and the battery from the Czech Republic. Currently, you can go ahead and configure and order the bike if you’re in Europe. There’s also a broad market launch planned in the days to come, with a plan to launch in countries like the USA and the United Arab Emirates by 2027. And even though it looks cool and approachable, is largely beginner-friendly with modest performance, manageable weight, and a focus on urban mobility, I’d still have doubts about going for the Novus One. That’s because it carries a price tag that plants it squarely in the same financial universe as exotic motorcycles, high-end adventure bikes, and even a few sports cars. For $38,000, most riders aren’t shopping for a first motorcycle; they’re shopping for a dream motorcycle. The Novus One costs €31,951.50 (around US$38,000) for the top-spec modelNovus And to be fair, it doesn’t look like Novus has built this for the average Joe. The carbon-fiber monocoque frame, minimalist aesthetic, and boutique production approach make it feel more like something you’d find in a modern art gallery than a dealership showroom. Viewed through that lens, the sticker price starts to make a little more sense – though not necessarily any easier to justify. And maybe that’s why I’m still conflicted. I can appreciate the engineering, admire the craftsmanship, and understand the appeal of owning something few people will ever see in the flesh. But calling it a beginner motorcycle feels a bit like calling a limited-edition Swiss watch a starter timepiece. Source: Novus source