Jared Isaacman confirmed as next head of NASAIsaacman will run the space agency at a time when Trump is trying to both downsize it and task it with returning astronauts to the Moon.

Building a Flying Blended Wing Body Aircraft PrototypeAnyone with an inkling of interest in super-sized remote control aircraft probably has at least seen some of the mind-blowing projects that [Ramy RC] has worked on over the years, with examples like the ongoing Airbus A380-800 build approaching the size of a full-sized business jet. That said, they recently got the offer to build a flying prototype of the Natilus Horizon, a blended wing body (BWB) aircraft that’s currently being developed into a full-sized production aircraft.
Suffice it to say that BWB RC aircraft isn’t something that they have built before, but as co-founder of Natilus, [Aleksey Matyushev], explains, they want to prove in this manner that building scale prototypes of future production aircraft is not nearly as complex as it’s often made out to be. Meaning that even two blokes in a shed as is the case here should be able to pull it off.
Natilus was founded in 2016 amidst strongly rising interest in these BWB aircraft designs that may one day threaten today’s tubes-with-wings. Their Kona design would be the cargo version and this Horizon prototype that [Ramy RC] is building the passenger version.
In this first video of two total, we can see the CAD project of the prototype and how the basic aircraft structure is being constructed out of carbon fiber composite, wood and foam. To this the engine nacelles, landing gear and wings are mounted, readying it for its maiden flight. The Natilus engineers have previously done all the simulations that should mean that it’ll fly like a glider, but we will have to wait until the next video to see whether that is the case.

Steinberg release Cubasis 3.8 The latest version of Steinberg’s award-winning mobile recording application is now available, and has been released alongside the all-new Verve and Etude piano AUv3 instruments for iPhone and iPad.

Epica Audio UFO FilterUFO Filter is a stereo filter plugin that abducts your sound and beams it into uncharted sonic territory. It's multi-waveform LFO doesn't just sweep the cutoff; it can modulate the resonance or morph the filter from low-pass to high-pass in real time, all with organic tape warmt. Whether you're carving subtle grooves or launching wild, pulsating transformations, UFO Filter is your spacecraft for drums, synths, guitars, and beyond. The truth is out there—and it sounds extraterrestrial. Read More

Get 50% off Arturia’s brand-new Pigments 7 synthesizer
Pigments 7 is the latest (brand-new) version of Arturia’s flagship multi-engine synth, and there are a few ways to get a great deal right now. Pigments 7 is available for $99 (usually $199) from Arturia until January 5, 2026. It’s available for the same price at Plugin Boutique, along with a gift. Before I get [...]
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Reggae chord progressions: A beginner’s guide
Learn about the three key reggae chord progressions (I - ii, I - ♭VII, and vi - v) that are behind so many of the genre's classics.

Bandsintown High Notes showcases Independent VenuesIn addition to celebrating the year in live music for fans and artists, Bandsintnown’s newly released High Notes showcases the independent venues that makes those magical moments possible. As 2025. Continue reading
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The Cinematic Metal Whooshes sample pack is FREE for a limited time
The Cinematic Metal Whooshes by Slava Pogorelsky is a sample pack that is free for a limited time via A Free Sound Effect. I’m a self-confessed hoarder of cinematic sounds, some of which have never seen the light of day. But I know I’ll need every single one of them one day, and it would [...]
View post: The Cinematic Metal Whooshes sample pack is FREE for a limited time

Podcaster, Writer & Consultant Jay Gilbert’s 2026 Music PredictionsHypebot's Future Predictions series is back. Join us as we ask the music industry's expert analysts what they think might unfold in the world of music in 2026.
The post Podcaster, Writer & Consultant Jay Gilbert’s 2026 Music Predictions appeared first on Hypebot.

MeldaProduction MMicSim Plugin is just $17 in 78% Off Deal
Audio Deluxe is currently offering MeldaProduction’s new MMicSim microphone simulator plugin for just $17.10 (normally $79) when you use the additional XMAS10 code at checkout. MMicSim is a 64-bit exclusive release for macOS (VST, VST3, AU, AAX) and Windows (VST, VST3, AAX).  The introductory deal sets MMicSim’s price at $19, but after you add the [...]
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2B Played Music offers QFX Mash FREE for a limited time with XMAS25 coupon
2B Played Music offers the QFX Mash, a one-knob sound degradation plugin for macOS and Windows, for free until December 26 by using the coupon code XMAS25 at checkout. If you’ve followed 2B Played Music releases for a while, you’ll know they regularly turn their QFX series plugins into limited-time freebies around Black Friday and [...]
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Study shows clubgoers feel phones are “ruining” the dancefloorAre smartphones killing club culture? Or are they merely reflecting how nightlife has evolved? A new survey suggests that for many clubgoers, the glow of phone screens is starting to destroy the very thing people come to clubs for: the in-person, shared experience of the dancefloor.
The study, commissioned by Ray-Ban Meta and conducted by Censuswide, found that half of clubbers believe phones are “ruining” the dancefloor. The findings land at a moment when the issue is becoming increasingly hard to ignore, with venues such as London’s Fabric and Fold implementing phone bans, and the relaunched Sankeys in Manchester set to go phone-free when it reopens next month.
Crucially, the survey suggests that such policies may not be as unpopular as some venues might fear. While phones are deeply embedded in club culture, attitudes toward their presence appear more conflicted than ever.

READ MORE: £5.7m per year in royalties from music played in UK clubs is being misallocated, report claims

Among the 2,000 adults surveyed in October, 50 percent say phones were ruining the dancefloor experience. Yet oddly enough, 55 percent also admit to using their own phones while dancing. The irony is clear: many clubbers recognise the problem, even as they actively contribute to it.
Of those respondents, 60 percent say they used their devices to film themselves and their friends dancing, while 34 percent used them to share content on social media or communicate with friends during the night.
The survey also sheds light on what clubbers value most when they’re out. Nearly half (47 percent) say the music itself is what makes the dancefloor special, followed by 43 percent who say it’s the feeling of dancing with friends. Meanwhile, 31 percent point to the experience of being fully immersed and lost in the moment
Weighing in on the findings, veteran DJ Fat Tony says: “Phones have been a blessing and a curse in my DJing life. While I love to be able to document so many special moments, their overuse has certainly ruined the vibe on many a dancefloor at the most iconic establishments.”
“Clubbing is all about energy and connection to the music, and while capturing that matters, the reality is screens take us out of the moment.”
Earlier this year, Fat Tony put that belief into practice with a phone-free event in London dubbed Club 2.0, where attendees placed their phones in sealed pouches. Those who still wanted to document the night were offered wearable technology instead – Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses – as an alternative.
The DJ goes as far as to call the technology “the future of nightlife,” though that raises the question: is replacing one screen with another really the solution?
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Artists in DSP releases Euclyd, a Euclidean multitap delay with an exclusive BPB discount
Artists in DSP has released Euclyd, a multitap delay plugin for macOS and Windows that takes a unique approach to rhythmic echo effects. BPB readers get a 50% off discount with the coupon code EUCLYDBPB50. Instead of thinking in terms of simple repeats, Euclyd is built around Euclidean rhythm, turning delay taps into evenly distributed [...]
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Sonora Cinematic introduce Refraction Refraction has been built using high-quality samples of a premium upright piano, but rather than aiming to recreate the acoustic instrument, it instead uses the recordings to craft an array of evolving pads and hybrid acoustic-electronic soundscapes. 

How Luminar’s doomed Volvo deal helped drag the company into bankruptcyLuminar says trouble with Volvo started as early as 2022, and that the Swedish automaker made -- but then backed away from -- large orders of its lidar sensors.