Virgin Hyperloop shows off the future: mass transport in floating magnetic pods

A test hyperloop tube is seen at the Virgin Hyperloop facility near Las Vegas, Nevada, May 5, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) - In the desert just north of Las Vegas, a long white metal tube sits at the base of the mountains, promising to one day revolutionize travel.

That is where Virgin Hyperloop, whose partners include Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is developing the technology for passenger pods that will hurtle at speeds of up to 750 miles an hour (1,200 kph) through almost air-free vacuum tunnels using magnetic levitation.