Kobyn

It sounds like the name of a vehicle in some sci-fi tale, but that fiction is only a short leap from reality. Light Rider is, in fact, an electric motorcycle with a 3D printed frame that resembles an organic structure more than a machine.

Designed by the Airbus subsidiary [APWorks], the largely hollow frame was devised to minimize weight while maintaining its integrity and facilitating the integration of cables within the structure. The frame is printed by melting a sea aluminium alloy particles together into thousands of layers 30 microns thick. Overall, Light Rider’s frame weighs 30% less than similar bikes; its net weight — including motor — barely tips the scales at 35 kg. Its 6 kW motor is capable of propelling its rider to 45 km/h in three seconds with a top speed of 80 km/h, and a range of approximately 60 km — not too shabby for a prototype!

An initial production run of 50 has long since sold out, so we hope this will spur others to invest in lightweight, clean-running transportation.

If you have an electric bike already and are looking to extend its range, we got you covered.

[via Urdesign]

A cat actively participates in a bridal party. (Photo: lemonjenny/CC BY-ND 2.0)

Cat lovers, we have a new item for your “#RelationshipGoals” check list: get married before an adoring army of feline friends. The pioneers of cat-centric wedding planning? Canadians Louise Veronneau and Dominic Husson, who wed this week in front of 1,000 guests—all of them cats.

What happens when you invite 1,100 cats to your wedding? @cbs47 tonight! pic.twitter.com/Q8zh4XiCHX

— Justin Sacher (@justinsacher) May 17, 2016

Veronneau and Husson bonded over their shared values and love of animals (especially cats), according to an interview with local ABC affiliate KFSN. In 2012, the bride visited The Cat House on the Kings sanctuary in Fresno, California. The shelter is North America’s largest no-kill, cage-free cat sanctuary and adoption center, providing a home to hundreds of stray and surrendered cats and kittens. Upon visiting the shelter, Veronneau told KFSN, “I felt in love. I felt in love with the work Lynea and her team is doing for the cats and the rescuing.”

Shortly after visiting the sanctuary, she began dating Husson; three years later, the couple decided to tie the knot—and Veronneau knew the perfect spot for a destination wedding.

So much fun at a @cathouseotkings wedding! Here's a favorite moment from today. This guy was so sweet! @ksee24 now! pic.twitter.com/mKyvE9pWRK

— Justin Sacher (@justinsacher) May 18, 2016

The couple didn’t stop at the all-feline guest list—after some cajoling, they managed to convince the sanctuary’s owner, Lynea Lattanzio, to become ordained so she could officiate the first wedding ever held at Cat House on the Kings. In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, Veronneau said that she “hoped we’re the first of many around the world” who decide to marry at the sanctuary, “because it will bring the sanctuary some recognition for the work they do.” In that spirit, the happy couple have asked that well-wishers donate to the shelter in lieu of gifts.

We’ve embedded Fresno Bee videographer Craig Kohrluss’ video of the couple and their 1,000 guests below; if you’d like some additional feline footage for your Caturday, more of the wedding celebration can be seen at KFSN.

The image of the light bulb is a-changing. Bulbs are increasingly going naked, attention getters ready to be exposed rather than hidden from view like those fugly CFL bulbs of just a few years ago. Two new bulbs from Nanoleaf fit into this new trend of beautiful bulbs designed with decor and energy efficiency at the forefront of their design.

The Nanoleaf Gem is the answer when you’re looking for a bulb to use exposed without a shade or cover. It’s a faceted focused glass LED bulb outputting 800 lumens, the equivalent of a 60 watt bulb, yet sips just 8 watts of electricity thanks to the light-emitting diodes inside. There’s also a 40 watt equivalent for softer mood lighting. Both turn on and light up like a traditional bulb with a very pleasant 2700K color temp ideal for reading. But as impressive as the energy efficiency and the purported 23 years life for each unit, you’ll probably buy the Nanoleaf Gem because of its geometric charm. It’s a looker whether on or off, arriving later this month in celebration of Earth Day.

The second Nanoleaf bulb is a little funkier than its gemstone counterpart and a 2015 Red Dot award winner. The Nanoleaf Bloom wears a Kickstarter vibe to it, with an interlocking LED dotted facet design which bathed us in an unexpectedly bright glow…really bright! The equivalent of a 75 watt bulb, the Bloom can put out 1,200 lumens of 3000K, 5000K, 6000K color temperature light using just 10 watts of power max, but it seems even brighter than those numbers communicate.

There’s another impressive trick this model offers at the flick of a switch: without the aid of a dimmer the Bloom can “Bloom Blink” (aka dim) down to 75%, 50%, or 25% brightness by turning off, then quickly back on the light switch. The four output settings serve different needs throughout the evening and circumvent the need to install a dimmer mechanism. And when switched off the bulb slowly dims down with a pleasant effect that eases the room into darkness, a dramatic effect which makes “lights out” something to look forward to.

Yes, we DO say! That’s gonna do ‘er for another week here at Cute Overload. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you check in tomorrow morning, for Rat’s It’s Monday! We’ll have some brand new Maru and Maymo (not together, seperately.) And..we might just give you something to Grump about.

Meanwhile……have a Red Panda. ‘Nite, all!

(Reddit.)

OK- just watch the first one.

Amazing, right? Launching into that slipper? Aye yi yi yi yi. Now- #2- Super Whac-A-Mole Action.

“My 10 week old Maine Coon kitten named Burli,” says Christoph B.

“Hello CuteOverload! I am a ginormous fan of your website and I often wished over the years that I had a cute little munchkin of my own so I could one day get him on the site,” sez Jessie W.

“WELL, I’m so happy to say that my husband and I recently got a silver-shaded British Shorthair near our hometown of Seattle, WA, and he is just abso-freaking-lutely adorable!”

“His name is Nermal (from Garfield) and we hope you agree that he is a cutie!”

He is very sweet, playful, and we think he looks like a raccoon from the back due to his striped tail, hehe.

Here are some of his best pictures (you will notice how much he has grown as these pictures were taken over several weeks!)

Maybe your iPad? Some Catnip? Vodka Martini (shaken, not stirred?)

Spotted on RN24 by Andrew Y., who never sleeps.

FitzRoy gives off such a regal presence, doesn’t he? But what is he doing? Is he watching cable, and he’s got a remote in the bowl? What’s on his mind? What does he want from his slave Wendy B., who sent in the photo?

Comments encouraged. This means you, Oakley.

Ponzu, the Golden Retriever, has a BFF; Best Feline Friend.

And, Ichimi, the rescued kitten, has a Furrever Friend!

They have been together since last fall.

Ichimi may not know it but Ponzu already has a nose for Best Feline Friends.

Once upon a time, Wasabi was Ponzu’s BFF too.

But Ichimi is there for Ponzu now, and Ponzu is there for Ichimi.

Looks like the beginning of a beautifulz friendship!

Ichimi sez, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”

Synchronized Snoozers!

What’s a little love bite between friends?

Complete deets via Bored Pand-awww.

Got a cat? Make a mat! Create your own throw rugs, placemats, and shawls in seconds with the Ronco Cat Flattener! Cat not included (but is extruded).

It’s WALLACE OUERLE, cool cat from New York City!

Would you like to learn a new language? Stop smoking? Understand Nietzsche? Operate a Zamboni? You can do all these things while you sleep, with HypnoBear™, the self-help system that’s as easy as a catnap. Simply select one of the hundreds of built-in courses, lie down, and let HypnoBear whisper exciting new ideas deep into your subconscious. Order now, and we’ll include your choice of first-year accounting, pre-med, or tractor repair completely free!

“These are pictures of my cat Lulu when she was a kitten almost 5 years ago,” writes Elena P.

…life goes on, bra. Cats. In Pots. From Japan. Because…..why not?
[Note: at :43, do ALL Japanese videos use that same 'whack' sound? You know you've heard it before. -Ed]

From CJ. Lyrical cred to Lennon–McCartney.

They’re small.
They’re mighty.
They’re from JAPAN.
And they’re coming to take you AWAY.

“I didn’t even know what hit me when i stumbled across this gem on The YouTubes. They’re so floofy and….those eyes…*explodes*” – Submitted by (what’s left of) Florian W.

There are two sides to everything – welcome to the Toesday Underworld. You are now in another dimension; where shadowy reflections in surreal nether regions bear a vague resemblance to free floating cat’s paws that don’t obey laws of physics – oh wait …

Via Twenty Two Words and  The Cat Scan.

Yes, that is what you think it is. A giant kitteh couch, about 11.5′ long. It was made by Unfold, a design studio in Antwerp, Belgium. It’s called “Felix Domesticus,” and Unfold considers it to be more of a sculpture. Either way, think of the belleh rubs you can give it!

The Olinguito! With the cute power of a dozen little puppies!

The Olinguito was discovered in August of this year; a new mammal species, and the first new carnivore discovered in over 30 years, lives in the cloud forests of the western Andes of Colombia.
“Breaking news about the Olinguito: the babies are just as adorable as you’d expect. Paws up, beady eyes, a boopable nose, and ears almost at 9 and 3. Just too cute.” -Angela W. via Saving Species.

Colonel Meow has bagged the Guinness World Record for having the longest fur! Read the LA Times story- you won’t beleef how The Colonel got to his lofty position.

Cuteporter DarkRedHead with the email alert!

We’re going to the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama! To meet the first red panda cubs born in the US in 2013!

Ta daaaa!

The proud first-time Mama is named Sorrel. What will the cubs’ names beeee?! (singsong)

Sorrel is being the best new Mama ever, but we think all red panda Mamas should check out How to pick up a baby Red Panda in 5 easy steps!

The cubs are still in seclusion until this fall. But zoo visitors can view Sorrel and her cubs on a video monitor.

Welcome to the Toilet Bowlympics! Our next event is the 500-lap Kitty Swirly.

Do I hafta go? Do I?

Via Daily Picks and Flicks

Has anyone seen The Chubbular One? Where could he be?

Mugumogu, who else?

We’re all outta spaghetti, so you wanna have Corgillini?

Corgnelius’s new brother, Stumphrey!

Feenix the Kitteh steps right up and wants to know what’s on the menu. Photo from Nancy M.

Jessica K.: “While I was away at a conference I hired Ralphie the Bengal Cat to keep an eye on my husband. I knew his cover was blown when Jeremy texted me this photo. Ralphie had been posing as Mrs. Butterworth next to the pancakes. Either that or a bottle of Jack. Ralphie’s namesake is the younger brother in “A Christmas Story.”

To keep themselves amused during naptime, Marcie and her brother Stan would often dream about riding roller coasters together.

Via jurvetson.

Just goes to show you, peeps: When Earth is overrun by enormous not-actually-vegetables-but-really-fruit from another galaxy (oh, and it’s coming, believe me), your only hope will be an army of sproinging kitties.

Cuteporter Shelly C. sent this video to us, and even provided the swell headline! Thanks Shelly!

Another terrific clip from the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, WA.

I think my life will end in some sort of scenario like this.