Tech

12 Cool DIY Crafting Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Needed

Published

3 hours ago

14 February 2026

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DIY is not only incredibly rewarding (most of the time), it’s also one of the best ways to save you some money when taking on home improvement jobs or renovations (especially if you avail yourself of all the best cheap tools that are actually worth buying). However, while the hands-on nature of these projects makes them satisfying, it can also bring moments that aren’t as fun.

Luckily with technology influencing just about every market it can by 2026, there are plenty of ways you can help reduce the time spent on the monotonous side of DIY. Whether you’re taking on large projects or small intricate crafting, there’s almost certainly a gadget that can save you a heap of time without spending too much money on them. Particularly if you’re taking it on solo, having as much help as you can get can go a long, long way in getting better results faster. Here’s a look at 12 gadgets that may have gone under your radar.

Digital Angle Finder Protractor

Beyond having all the essential power tools for woodworking or metalworking, virtually every project depends on having the ability to measure and cut at angles reliably. The protractor isn’t exactly a new tool, but as is the case with the majority of analog tools, technology has crept into the fold and streamlined even the smallest in the box.

While standard protractors will always do a great job, a digital angle finder protractor can offer a much more accurate, reliable way to measure any cut and join you need. There’s plenty of choice out there for one of these gadgets, but the most popular products all feature two ruler arms connected with a locking screw, which can be rotated 360 degrees. Amazon is unsurprisingly a great place to pick one of these up, with the highly-rated protractor made by GemRed having an accuracy rating of +0.3 degrees. They also aren’t too expensive, often priced between $15 and $40, depending on what size you need.

Electric Engraving Pen

One of the more niche products on this list, but also one of the most useful, is an electric engraving pen. Especially if your DIY project is one you want to personalize to the fullest, picking up one of these can offer a great deal of intricacy while saving you money compared to larger machines. And, of course, plenty of time instead of engraving the old-fashioned way.

This gadget can work on a variety of materials, including wood, glass, and metal. Pricing varies quite a bit with engraving pens, ranging from around $20 for more affordable ones up to $70 for top-end versions. What’s consistent with the majority of pens, though, is the expansive attachments for different designs. A three-speed motor is also featured in many of the tools, which is a feature that buyers tend to find incredibly useful. While other tools later on this list can also handle engraving, going for a purpose-built engraving pen will allow for more accuracy and better ergonomics for the specific task.

UV Resin Curing Light

If you make things like jewelry or functional home decor products like coasters, resin is something you’re likely familiar with. You may have experience working with different types of it. Epoxy resin is the most popular variety, but if you’re going to be making smaller items and don’t want to wait hours for it to dry, UV resin is often a top choice.

Epoxy can cure in any condition through a chemical reactions, the name suggests, UV resin needs UV light to cure. To speed up the process dramatically, purchasing a UV curing system can finish your projects in minutes or even less. While you will need to buy the specific type of resin along with the light, some of the smaller products are priced as low as $15.99 on Amazon. Larger lights can get to double that, but still don’t cost too much considering how much time it can save you in the long run.

Laser Measuring Tool

A common theme with quite a few of the products on this list is how they take traditional tools and streamline them with technology. The next of these is the tape measure. Similar to the digital angle finder, a laser measuring tool can retain the hands-on accuracy of a standard tape measure, but help you massively if you’re working on a solo project that could do with an extra set of hands from time to time. Especially if you work on larger pieces, gone are the days when you have to stretch from end to end to make sure you get the measurements right.

Now, you can simply put a laser measuring tool down on a surface, point it to where you want to measure to, and it’ll provide you with an accurate reading of the space between. If you’re planning on fixing something that’s hard to reach, or you’re looking for something reliable to add to a beginner set of DIY tools, this kind of gadget is affordable and easy to use (though it’s less effective outdoors in direct sunlight).

Popular products come from the likes of Bosch, which can measure up to 165 feet. As for pricing, the popular laser from Bosch costs $49.99 as standard, with many others falling in the same range. Budget options can be picked up for around $20, however.

Cordless Mini Drill Pen

Keeping on the topic of larger projects, there isn’t a real replacement, or rather, a shortcut, in achieving smooth, accurate holes compared to using a drill. However, most power drills are more the kind of DIY tool you might find at Home Depot — a little big to be considered a gadget, and a little clumsy for fine work. If you’re working on jewelry, accessories, or household items, opting for a miniature drill pen should certainly be one of the gadgets at the top of your list.

These drills look a lot like the electric engraving pens we covered earlier, just with a different function. The design makes them incredibly easy to hold and use. The majority of the most popular models also come with a wide range of drill attachments, as well as a three-speed motor. Some will also have five speed settings if you need a little more power. High-speed steel drill bits are a popular choice, but some products also use titanium-coated bits. On the lower end, a cordless mini drill pen can cost between $20 and $30, but top-spec models can easily approach $100.

Portable Temperature-Controlled Soldering Iron

Soldering stations aren’t usually the largest of electronic tools, but like drills, they can’t be considered gadgets in the traditional sense. They’re also fairly complex, which usually means expensive, too. Luckily, there’s a popular alternative that can take away all the negatives of the larger machines: a portable temperature-controlled soldering iron. Another pen-shaped gadget in this list, this type of soldering iron allows you to get more up close with the same projects that the larger kits are often used for.

You can also get plug-in soldering irons that don’t come with a station, which can be bought for as low as $20.99 as standard on Amazon. However, to unlock the highest levels of usability, spending more on a rechargeable USB-C iron is worth it. Most of these areas are still temperature-controlled, have rapid heat-up times, and come with a variety of attachments for different projects. Brands such as FNIRSI offer top-spec portable soldering irons, which usually sit between $85 and $120. If you don’t want to spend that much, Amazon has a nice selection of well-reviewed alternatives for about half that.

Cordless Rotary Tool Kit

A rotary tool kit is essentially a combination of individual gadgets we’ve featured on this list, making it an ideal choice if you’re working on various projects involving drilling and engraving, as well as carving and sanding. Cordless models don’t always come with quite as many attachments as larger plug-in tools, but similar to so many other gadgets on this list, the reduction in size and portability makes up for that.

If you only need a gadget for a specific task, a product like a mini drill pen or engraving pen would still be the way to go, given the additional attachments you get. But if you either want to experiment with different techniques or don’t want to spend the money for each gadget, this product is essentially a must-have for DIY work.

To accommodate the number of tasks a rotary kit can handle, they often have five different speed settings. If you go for a budget option that’s still well-equipped, you’ll only have to spend as low as $17.99 on Amazon for a well-reviewed product. The best ones go for around $95 as standard, though, keeping options open if you’re more confident and want better capabilities.

Digital Caliper

Moving back to the small functional tools that can be put to use no matter what DIY project you’re tackling, there’s another tech-enhanced tool that can offer precise measurements alongside the protractor. A caliper is one of the essential tools when crafting, finding ultra-precise measurements of areas that rulers struggle to find accuracy. Standard caliper will do the job, but a digital caliper can give you another layer of reassurance that you’ve got the correct reading.

Digital calipers are mostly the same as the standard tool, only you have a screen attached to it. Pricing stays low despite this, with some of the best-reviewed products on Amazon currently sitting at $15.98. At the other end of the market, brands like Fowler charge up to $70. Stainless steel is often used for the vernier caliper for extra strength and durability, meaning you’ll get your money’s worth in the long run. The precise measurements, often as low as 0.001 inches, that a digital caliper can provide will make a massive difference to matter what project you’re working on.

Portable Air Brush Kit

Once you’ve finished putting your project together, plenty of gadgets can streamline the customization aspect as well. Air brush kits are often marketed toward things like nail and face painting, but the easy-to-use and consistent nature of them also makes them ideal for applying a base layer to your crafts.

It won’t be able to add on more intricate details due to the high pressure, but an airbrush kit will apply a base coat far quicker than if you hand paint it, especially for larger projects. Think scale modeling and home decor. On Amazon, there’s a wide range of portable air brush kits to choose from, with more expensive products integrating things like an LED screen and more standard accessories. If you don’t need anything too flashy, affordable ones priced at around $20 remain competitive with up to 50 PSI and three power settings.

Electric Scissors

A pair of scissors might not be something you think needs improving, but if your DIY projects often require precise accurate cutting, it’s not always the easiest to keep the line perfectly straight. If that’s something you struggle with, you’ll no doubt understand why electric scissors are considered a must-have for hobby enthusiasts.

Fabrics are often involved with an endless amount of home decor projects, from creating bespoke pillows for your living room or reupholstering furniture. As the name suggests, electric scissors remove the motion of actually cutting things out yourself, which can be super effective with tougher materials like leather and carpet. Some of the best-reviewed models on Amazon have ratings of up to 12,000 RPM, claiming a 50% faster operation compared to a standard pair of scissors. Expect to pay around $50 for a pair of electric scissors, though, but again, if your projects call for it, they can save a massive amount of time while still being incredibly accurate.

Cricut Joy Compact Cutting Machine

Staying with the engrossing task of cutting things out, there’s another step up from a pair of electric scissors if you want to save even more time, particularly with the more difficult tasks. Enter the Cricut Joy smart cutting machine, which can work with over 50 materials to precisely cut out highly detailed designs with a few button pushes. This is the largest gadget on this list and subsequently the most expensive, but at the time of writing it’s on sale for for $99, down from $179.

The smart cutter works by finalizing your design on Cricut’s app, and it’ll produce hard-to-cut internal items such as stickers, decals, and cards to attach to just about anything you can find. Especially for kids, the Cricut Joy keeps the freedom of choosing what design you want for your DIY project, but removes the finicky process of trying to perfectly cut it out. You can use vinyl, iron-on, leather, and standard paper for more versatility.

Electric Yarn Winder

Knitting is essentially a non-stop hand and wrist exercise, and while it can be somewhat therapeutic, it can easily cause strain over time. One of its most time-consuming aspects is yarn winding. For this gadget, we’re going back to something that can eliminate the hands-on aspect of a tedious side of crafting so you can focus on actually creating, this time around being an electric yarn winder.

Staring at the tangled mess of yarn won’t get you excited to unravel it all and make a usable cake. With electric winders, it’ll pull in the string and wrap around the cone holder to create an almost-perfect cake ready for use. Owners can’t give enough praise for these, even if you go for an affordable one. On Amazon, you can find some for about $23 on sale at the time of writing, but the majority of the electric winders are priced at $39.99 as standard. As is the case with the majority of the gadgets here, the amount of time saved can easily offset the money you spend on it.

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This could be our first look at Samsung’s upcoming wide foldable phone

Published

12 minutes ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Folks over at Android Authority have pieced together an animation from an early build of One UI 9, Samsung’s version of Android 17, and it gives us the new form factor and the design of the purported Wide Fold.

The outlet has shared what appears to be an introductory device animation, depicting a swipe-up gesture on the cover screen that reveals a list-type content, then the handset unfolds, and the content expands on the main screen.

A familiar animation, but an unfamiliar shape

What other details does the animation reveal? First, the Wide Fold’s cover screen could come with a punch-hole camera located in the center. It would carry a rather boxy profile, rather than the rounded edges we’re used to seeing on non-foldable smartphones.

As the phone unfolds, we can also see a punch-hole camera on the main screen (top center of the right half). However, it is the phone’s shape and size, and how unusual it looks, that strike me the most.

So far, Samsung’s foldables have had a rather tall external screen and a broad, book-style inner screen.

While it provides more than enough screen estate for multitasking and productivity, it doesn’t have the most user-friendly aspect ratio for modern-day content (both on YouTube and on OTT platforms).

A major shift in Samsung’s foldable philosophy

The cover screen, as shown in the animation, appears dramatically shorter and wider than the tall, narrow exterior displays on existing Galaxy Z Fold models.

Based on the proportions depicted, the outer display appears closer to a 16:10 (height-to-width) aspect ratio in portrait orientation than to the elongated 20:9-style screens Samsung typically uses.

Meanwhile, the inner display appears very close to 3:4 (height-to-width), only slightly narrower, giving it a distinctly tablet-like feel when unfolded. Unlike the Fold 7’s inner screen, the Wide Fold’s isn’t in the shape of a square.

What does that mean for users?

Well, the exterior screen should feel more like a normal phone and provide a wider keyboard (which means fewer typos).

The inner screen, on the other hand, should provide a better content-viewing experience (without the horizontal bars at the top and the bottom).

Given that the Wide Fold’s animation is buried deep in the One UI 9 test build, it’s safe to conclude that Samsung is planning to launch the handset alongside the Fold 8 and the Flip 8 at the Galaxy Unpacked event in the third quarter of the year (likely in July or August 2026).

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Funding still the biggest challenge in 2026

Published

26 minutes ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Scale Ireland also found that 35.4pc of respondents to its annual survey were unaware of the landmark EU AI Act.

Irish founders have pointed fingers at funding as their biggest concern for the fifth year in a row, finds the latest annual Scale Ireland State of Start-up Survey, published today (13 February).

Scale Ireland surveyed 209 founders and CEOs of tech companies from Ireland. Nearly 75pc of them told surveyors that attracting private capital is “difficult” or “very difficult”.

Similar numbers found it hard to attract private capital back in 2022 – when the report was first launched – as in 2025, when Scale Ireland reported 80pc of respondents were finding it hard to attract capital.

This finding is in line with a 2025 Government report which found that Irish scale-up enterprises would face a €1.1bn gap in equity financing over the next three to five years.

“While funding remains the biggest issue for start-ups and scaling companies, there are also considerable and persistent problems with enterprise supports. They are far too complicated,” said the not-for-profit Scale Ireland’s CEO Martina Fitzgerald.

Compared to that earliest 2022 report, which found that one in four business leaders said recruiting and retaining staff was their biggest challenge, in 2026 only 9.1pc said the same.

The large majority of businesses surveyed (88.5pc) for 2026 said they did not use the Key Employment Engagement Programme (KEEP) to recruit and retain staff. 45pc believed the scheme needs to be reformed.

More than 60pc of the surveyed founders said that government supports – such as the KEEP scheme – are the “most critical” to successfully scaling a business.

However, there is a strong indication that founders don’t find the available supports for start-ups and scale-ups enough. More than 66pc of the survey respondents are not confident that Ireland is moving in the right direction in this instance, while 30.6pc are “confident” or “very confident” about this.

Meanwhile, more than 94pc of founders have already deployed or are prepping to deploy AI in their companies, the latest survey has found. 85% believe AI will add value to their company’s performance.

Other reports suggest that AI’s effects on the bottom line in Ireland are still expected to be lukewarm. According to PwC’s AI Agent Survey, 53pc of Irish participants see clear productivity boosts from AI agents, but only 38pc experience real cost reductions.

On top of that, Scale Ireland found that 35.4pc of its respondents were unaware of the landmark EU AI Act, while around 36pc said that they don’t know what impact the law will have on their business. Fitzgerald said that this needs to be “addressed urgently”.

The EU AI Act is arguably the most robust and detailed form of AI regulation in the world. The act is meant to regulate AI technology through a risk-based approach – the riskier an AI application is, the more rules apply to it.

“The survey demonstrates that, while progress has been made in areas such as the R&D tax credit, other challenges for the sector are very persistent,” said Scale Ireland chair Brian Caulfield.

“Start-up and scaling companies remain hugely undercapitalised relative to US peers. Greater incentives are required to encourage private investment by angels and to mobilise pension fund savings to invest in indigenous enterprises.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

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VR’s golden age is over, and there wasn’t much gold there

Published

37 minutes ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

It was promised as a new age for businesses. Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality – in whatever shape it took, this was going to be the 21st century game-changer. No more staring at screens or using a mouse. That’s ancient, 20th century thinking, that is.

This new reality would see the advent of true hands-free computing and unparalleled remote experiences, wherever in the world professionals were based. From prototyping to healthcare diagnoses, it heralded a new age. And, like those stuck in Casablanca, we waited. And waited. And waited.

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Sony Promo Codes and Discounts: 45% Off

Published

50 minutes ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Sony makes some of the best electronics we’ve tested across a dizzying array of categories, from TVs and audio gear to cameras and gaming consoles. Sony products constantly occupy top slots on our Best TVs and Best OLED TVs lists, Best Wireless Headphones, and Best Cameras guides. If you’re shopping for products from any of those categories, you can pay a little less with our Sony promo codes for deals like 45% off Bravia Televisions, 30% off Sony headphones and earbuds, 15% off cameras and lenses, and more.

Sony Promo: 45% off Bravia Televisions

Sony Bravia models rank among the best TVs we’ve reviewed, from premium models like the revolutionary Bravia 9 QLED and brilliant Bravia 8 II OLED, to the more mid-tier Bravia 5, all of which are available on hot Sony deals right now, with this new promo for up to 45% off.

Use Sony Coupons and Save 30% off Sony Headphones and Earbuds

Sony has been synonymous with portable audio since the Walkman, and wireless headphones like the WH-1000XM series offer great performance and durability. We’re constantly putting them atop our list of the best wireless headphones thanks to excellent sound, feature-rich design, and noise-cancelling that ranks among the best in the business. With Sony online coupons, you can get great deals on Sony’s latest WH-1000XM6 headphones, which we loved for their upgraded sound and class-leading noise canceling, as well as the still-great previous generation, the WH-1000XM5.

Looking for earbuds? Sony’s nimble, noise-killing WF-1000XM5 are also on sale, as are plenty of other options from the brand’s diverse lineup. Click the link to get 30% off Sony headphones and earbuds goodness with this Sony promo code and Sony coupons.

Sony Discount: 15% off Sony Cameras and Lenses

Sony makes some of the best consumer cameras on the market. In fact, we recently named the Sony A7V the best mirrorless camera you can buy, and the previous A7 IV was similarly fabulous. Both are on great sales through these new offers, letting you grab serious image quality with 15% off our favorite Sony cameras and lenses.

Get 10% off or $25 off Sony TVs on Your First Purchase When You Sign Up for Emails

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How to watch England vs Scotland: Free Streams, TV Channels & Preview

Published

1 hour ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

The England vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 match could very well be a virtual knockout. Unfortunately for English fans, that’s because Harry Brook’s side has had a bumpy start to their campaign. Despite looking strong on paper, they only managed a narrow escape against Nepal in their opener, thanks to Sam Curran defending 10 runs in the final over. The West Indies weren’t as forgiving, however, and handed England a 30-run defeat.

If you’re away from home right now you can use a VPN to unblock your usual stream from anywhere.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Like England, Scotland have played two matches, with one win and one loss. They fell to the Windies in their opener but bounced back strongly against newcomers Italy. They currently sit above England in the table due to a better net run rate – so a win here will put them on the brink of history, as they’d have one foot in the Super 8 stage.

The match will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This works in Scotland’s favor, as both of their games so far have been at the same venue, helping them acclimatize to the conditions. England, meanwhile, will be playing away from the Wankhede for the first time in this World Cup. However, Kolkata’s batting-friendly surface could be exactly what England is looking for if they hope to go all the way.

Keep reading as we explain how to watch the England vs Scotland in the T20 World Cup from anywhere in the world.

best VPN to change your streaming device’s IP address to your usual location.

Use a VPN to watch the England vs Scotland T20 World Cup live stream from anywhere:

When and where is the England vs Scotland match?

The England vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played on Saturday, February 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata at 9:30am GMT / 4:30am ET.

England vs Scotland T20 World Cup 2026 squads

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

Scotland: Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Indian pharmacy chain giant exposed customer data and internal systems

Published

1 hour ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

A security lapse by one of India’s largest pharmacy chains allowed outsiders to gain full administrative control of its platform, exposing customer order data and sensitive drug-control functions, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.

The issue affected DavaIndia Pharmacy, the pharmacy arm of Zota Healthcare, which operates a large network of retail outlets across India. Security researcher Eaton Zveare told TechCrunch that he discovered the flaw after identifying insecure “super admin” application programming interfaces on DavaIndia’s website and privately shared details with Indian cybersecurity authorities.

The bug is now fixed, and Zveare disclosed his findings.

The exposure comes as Zota Healthcare rapidly scales DavaIndia Pharmacy’s retail business. The Gujarat-headquartered company operates more than 2,300 DavaIndia stores across India, including 276 new outlets announced in January, and plans to add another 1,200 to 1,500 over the next two years.

Zveare told TechCrunch that the flaw stemmed from insecure admin interfaces, which allowed unauthenticated users to create “super admin” accounts with high privileges.

With that level of access, an attacker could view thousands of online orders containing customer information, modify product listings and prices, create discount coupons, and change settings governing whether certain medicines required a prescription, the researcher said.

Based on system timestamps, Zveare said the vulnerable administrative interfaces appeared to have been live since late 2024. The access exposed nearly 17,000 online orders and administrative controls spanning 883 stores, he said, allowing changes to product pricing, prescription requirements, and promotional discounts. Zveare said the access allowed edits to website content that could have been used for defacement or disruption.

Pharmacy order data can be particularly sensitive, as it may reveal information about a person’s health conditions, medications or other private purchases. Exposure of such data, even without evidence of misuse, carries heightened privacy and patient-safety risks compared with other consumer information.

“Customer information was linked to their orders,” said Zveare. “This includes name, phone numbers, email IDs, mailing addresses, total amount paid, and the products purchased. Since this is a pharmacy, the products being purchased could be considered private and even embarrassing for some people.”

Zveare said he reported the issue to CERT-In, India’s national cyber emergency response agency, in August 2025. The vulnerability was fixed within weeks, though confirmation from the company took longer and was provided to the cyber authorities in late November, he said.

Sujit Paul, chief executive of Zota Healthcare, did not respond to emails sent by TechCrunch last month. The researcher said there was no indication the flaw had been exploited before it was patched.

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RFK Jr. calls Carbon Robotics’ laser weed zapper the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ in herbicide fight

Published

2 hours ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

A Carbon Robotics LaserWeeder working in a field of onions. (Carbon Robotics Photo)

The weed-zapping lasers from Seattle agriculture-tech startup Carbon Robotics are on the radar of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In an appearance on the Theo Von podcast “This Past Weekend,” which aired on Thursday, Kennedy and Von got into a discussion about herbicides. In 2018, Kennedy helped win a $289 million settlement against Roundup maker Monsanto in a lawsuit claiming the weed killer caused a California man’s cancer.

Kennedy said “all the row croppers” are still dependent on such products, “but other technology is emerging.” He said he’d gotten a look at such equipment this week as an image of Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder was shown in the podcast video.

“It’s a tractor attachment that uses lasers to kill weeds,” he said. “If they can make that affordable, particularly for smaller farmers, that will be the answer. You program this thing and it zaps the weed with a laser, it makes all the cells explode and it destroys them.

“There’s a future that we can now see the light at the end of tunnel,” Kennedy added.

We thank @RobertKennedyJr for his focus on the American farmer and healthy food. Thank you, @TheoVon, for such a great podcast.
Here’s the video clip of them talking about laser weeding as an alternative to chemical herbicides, with some commentary added from Carbon Robotics… pic.twitter.com/u0AyUlrCBU
— Carbon Robotics (@carbon_robotics) February 12, 2026

Carbon founder and CEO Paul Mikesell added some comments about Kennedy’s plug in a video the company posted on X (above).

“This is great, I’m glad this is being shown and coming to light,” Mikesell said, adding that running the machines at night, constantly killing weeds, is indeed “sick,” as Von stated.

While Kennedy said, “This is going to be the future … but we’re not there yet,” Mikesell said he thinks “we are there” and the LaserWeeder is a production machine being used by farmers across the U.S. and around the world.

Mikesell also sent a statement to GeekWire on Friday morning, further elaborating on the conversation Kennedy had with Von about herbicides:

“As the Health Secretary pointed out, the LaserWeeder can help farmers get the best crops out of their land without spraying chemicals that have harmful effects on their health and long-term degenerative effects on their land. Because they didn’t have other choices, farmers have historically faced pressure to use chemicals like glyphosate to help meet demand for crops. But they also have recognized that those very chemicals cause real long-term damage to the human biome. Now, they’re turning to other solutions like the LaserWeeder that provide the ability to grow food without spraying chemicals everywhere. It’s also worth pointing out that weeds are getting resistant to these herbicides, so regardless of people reaching the conclusion that glyphosate is dangerous, it won’t matter because these plants will become resistant in the end. We need other solutions that bolster food safety, and that’s where LaserWeeder can help.”

Founded in 2018, Carbon Robotics made its name across ag-tech with the LaserWeeder, a machine which can be pulled behind a tractor and uses computer vision and AI to detect plants in fields and then target and eliminate weeds with lasers. The latest iteration, the LaserWeeder G2, was released last February.

Earlier this month, Carbon announced the launch of what it calls the world’s first “Large Plant Model” — an AI model for plant detection and identification. “Trained on the largest, most diverse, and fastest growing agricultural dataset ever built with 150 million labeled plants, the LPM enables farmers to start laser weeding any field or crop in minutes,” the company said in a news release.

Last October, Carbon raised $20 million in new funding to support the creation of another piece of AI-powered machinery for farms that it has yet to reveal. Carbon previously unveiled the Carbon ATK, an autonomous platform designed to fit on and control existing farm equipment.

The company has raised $177 million to date and now employs about 260 people. It runs a manufacturing facility in Richland, Wash., and Mikesell previously said LaserWeeders are active on hundreds of farms and in 15 countries around the world.

Ranked No. 9 on the GeekWire 200 list of top privately held startups based across the Pacific Northwest, Carbon has previously been backed by NVIDIA and Seattle-based Fuse and Voyager Capital.

Kennedy was a high-profile environmental lawyer best known for challenging corporate polluters before he launched a long-shot presidential bid in the 2024 election. He was appointed by President Donald Trump to lead Health and Human Services, the federal agency responsible for overseeing national health programs and key public-health bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

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Rock Sphere Machine Produces Off The Charts Satisfaction

Published

2 hours ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

[Michigan Rocks] says he avoided making rock spheres for a long time on account of the time and cost he imagined was involved. Well, all that is in the past in light of the fabulous results from his self-built Rock Sphere Machine! Turns out that it’s neither costly to make such a machine, nor particularly time-consuming to create the spheres once things are dialed in. The video is a journey of the very first run of the machine, and it’s a great tour.

The resulting sphere? Super satisfying to hold and handle. The surface is beyond smooth, with an oil-like glossy shine that is utterly dry to the touch.

The basic concept — that of three cordless drills in tension — is adapted from existing designs, but the implementation is all his own. First a rough-cut rock is held between three diamond bits. The drills turn at 100 RPM while a simple water reservoir drips from above. After two hours, there’s a fair bit of slurry and the rock has definitely changed.

[Michigan Rocks] moves on to polishing, which uses the same setup but with progressively-finer grinding pads in place of the cutting bits. This part is also really clever, because the DIY polishing pads are great hacks in and of themselves. They’re made from little more than PVC pipe end caps with hex bolts as shafts. The end caps are filled with epoxy and topped with a slightly concave surface of hook-and-loop fastener. By doing this, he can cut up larger fuzzy-backed polishing pads and stick the pieces to his drill-mounted holders as needed, all the way down to 6000 grit. He shows everything about the pads at the 11:55 mark, and it’s an approach worth keeping in mind.

What is the end result like? See for yourself, but we think [Michigan Rocks] sums it up when he says “I wish you could feel this thing, it feels so smooth. It’s so satisfying to roll around in your hands. I’m so happy I made this machine. This is awesome.”

We’ve seen machines for making wooden spheres but this one makes fantastic use of repurposed stuff like inexpensive cordless drills, and the sort of wood structures anyone with access to hand tools can make.

Thanks to [AloofPenny] for the tip.

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Sony launches a subscription service to lease PlayStation 5 consoles, but you can’t get one

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2 hours ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

There was a time when getting a new PlayStation console meant something: staring at your bank account, convincing yourself that it is the right decision, swiping your card, and sighing dramatically after stepping out of the shop with the console; it felt like a ritual.

However, somehow, the concept of owning something has become so outdated in 2026 that even Sony has decided to provide the PlayStation 5 on a lease or rental program (along with other PlayStation hardware), at least in one of its key markets.

Sony PlayStation lease program United Kingdom. — PlayStation Flex / Raylo

The Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Fortnite Bundle on a white background. — PlayStation Flex / Raylo

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Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus review: Beginner-friendly, easily expandable

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2 hours ago

14 February 2026

NewsAdmin

The Ugreen NASync DH4300 is a very easy-to-use NAS for beginners who need more capacity than your typical entry-level network storage appliance.

A UGREEN device is on a white desk, with a monitor and other electronics in the background.

Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus

We’re getting to a point with cloud storage that in the long run, having a local cloud is a good idea. And, network attached storage (NAS) isn’t just for networking experts anymore.
But, it’s easy to underestimate needs. That local cloud basic user could go for entry-level options with two drives, which is fine for most, but when you start thinking about other stuff to do, simply isn’t enough when data storage needs grow.
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