Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2013-January 2014 i Popular Mechanics

We read all your comments, tweets, and letters. About halfway through the pile, we're glowing with pride. A little later, we still love you, but we really need a nap. Curated by Darren Orf In our October cover story ("How Not to Die"), writer Jeff Wise reveals 20 potentially lethal scenarios that hide in plain sight—and how to detect and avoid them. Many readers wrote to tell us that the feature was compelling and informative, while others thought some of the items fell short. ? "Jeff Wise tells us to avoid shark-infested waters," Bryan Chapman of Hartsburg, Mo., writes. "But he fails to define how many sharks in how large an area would constitute an infestation." Good point, but relax, you're safe in Missouri. ? In "When Can I Let…

Gear and Gadget Guide Take our word for it, PopMech readers are a picky lot. And that makes you nearly impossible to shop for. Well, we've made your and your loved ones' lives easier by compiling a list of the most coveted products. Our editors toiled for months, playing with tons of toys, tools, gear, and gadgets. Then we brought in a team of master's candidates from the Industrial Design program at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., to help us cull the final batch. By David Agrell, Rachel Z. Arndt, Roy Berendsohn, Jennings Brown, Amanda Green, Jaime Netzer, and Erik Sofge Wardrobe styling by Eric Launder, grooming by Cindy Adams Items worth a total of $1970 in this section could be yours for free! Look for the WIN THIS! flag,…

HERE'S A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT: IMAGINE that activists, concerned with official misconduct, install license-plate readers on private property to track the location of every car belonging to the police department or a politician and upload the locations to a public database. The result: a map of where the police go, and where they don't—along, perhaps, with politicians' visits to motels or strip clubs. Given that police often respond with hostility to simply being videotaped, I expect that a venture like this would prompt an outcry, and probably some efforts to shut it down. But this is precisely what officialdom is doing to citizens. We now know that federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are using automated license-plate scanners, mounted on everything from telephone poles to police cars, to build a…

The Aeroscraft prototype, seen here in its hangar in Tustin, Calif., could herald a new era in airships. HOW IT WORKS The Aeroscraft uses a buoyancy system called COSH, for Control of Static Heaviness, which is inspired by submarine technology. The system eliminates the need for runways and ground crews. That could make this airship ideally suited for moving heavy cargo to remote locations. GIANTS OF THE SKY The bigger the airship, the more efficient it is. At 555 feet, the first Aeros production model will dwarf cargo airplanes; the company hopes eventually to build 770-foot-long models that could carry 250 tons of freight—twice as much as a 747-8 freighter. BUOYANCY Aeros's first planned production model will have 18 helium tanks (1). To increase lift, the pilot releases helium, which…

CONCRETE FASTENERS 60-WATT-BULBALTERNATIVES BENCH GRINDERS After my daughter was born in May, I promised myself I'd build her an heirloom-quality toy—something more lasting than the cheap stuff that fills the stores this time of year. For help creating a toy that I'd be proud to give, I called Brian LaRossa, an award-winning illustrator and senior designer at Scholastic, the children's media company. He's also the father of twin boys, making him even more qualified to assist. We arrived at this wooden dinosaur, which not only looks charming but also invites interaction. Because of the small parts, it'll be a few years before my daughter gets her hands on this. But when she does, she'll simply twist the parts to create lifelike poses. Best of all, this toy is easy to…

FIXING WI-FI INTERFERENCE BLOCKING TWEETS The door lock is a marvelous marriage of simplicity and complexity. Both its function (to restrict access to a building or room) and operation (insert key, twist key, open door) are simple. But it's the complex internal mechanics that allow the lock to work the way it does. The pins, grooves, and cylinder must all align perfectly with the proper key or the cylinder won't turn, the bolt won't throw, and the door won't open—that's the whole point. Locks have been around for thousands of years, but the modern pin-tumbler lock was invented by Linus Yale Sr. in 1848. Though the pin-tumbler is certainly pickable by an expert, the basic design has been discouraging burglars to this day. The State of Smart Locks Until recently,…

On Oct. 22, POPULAR MECHANICS celebrated the ninth annual Breakthrough Awards in New York, an event some have called a nerd prom. (We take that as a compliment.) Science, technology, and product-development innovators received richly deserved recognition for 20 innovations that are making the world a better place. Leadership Award winner Peter Diamandis, of the XPRIZE Foundation, joined winners who included the creators of networked quadrotors that will work in disaster relief, exoskeleton legs, desktop manufacturing machines, lifesaving medical tech, a pilotless jet, and more. PM tech editor Davey Alba talks 3D printing with MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis. Right: PM editor-in-chief Jim Meigs with Wendy Schmidt, Peter Diamandis, PM publisher Michael Kuntz, and Hearst Men's Enthusiast Group senior VP Jack Essig. From left: Diamandis; Next-Gen BTA winner Meghan Shea (in…

THE 2014 AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLENCE AWARDS U.S. auto sales are booming. Just five years after the global financial crisis took more than one automaker to the brink of oblivion, nearly every company is selling cars as fast they can build them, on pace for the best year since 2007. The market is brimming with great cars—every segment is full of choices with modern styling and sporty driving dynamics. To top it off, diesels are coming back and cars are starting to drive themselves. It's been an exciting year for car enthusiasts, but it also makes deciding on just 10 winners harder than ever. As always, our picks range widely in price, size, and utility, but, collectively, they also represent the very best of an industry filled with new life. — THE…

Here are seven vehicles that will change how we work and play in space. WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE TOUCHED DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME, in 2011, America no longer had the hardware to launch a human into orbit. Now, driven by private industry, the country is again becoming a spacefaring nation. "We're in a transitional phase," says Marco Caceres, director of space studies at the Teal Group, an aerospace consulting firm. "Private companies are leading in space, and that means things are going to get cheaper. That gives you more latitude to dream." NASA itself is focusing on deep-space missions, including a manned trip to an asteroid. Some of these projects may stall due to failures of funding or engineering; if only a handful fly, it means a new golden…

WINTER EMERGENCY KIT BELT SQUEAL DIPPING A TOE-IN COLD CASE Degree of Difficulty 5/10 Bluetooth audio is common in new cars, but if your ride is a few years old you might not be able to stream audio through the radio. Other options exist: Your car may have an auxiliary input that connects any audio source via a 3.5-mm (⅛-inch) minijack; older cars might even take a cassette adapter. But both of these solutions add clutter to the interior. Here's a cheap way to put wireless audio in any car without adding unsightly cords or even changing the appearance of the factory audio system. THE HOW-TO The general concept is simple, but you need to be comfortable with taking your interior apart and working under the dashboard. Here's how it's…

The bench grinder may seem obscure, but it's the centerpiece of many well-equipped workshops. Consisting of a motor with a spindle at each end, these machines allow you to mount a wheel to grind, buff, or wire-brush metal. We gathered six grinders that all take a 6-inch-diameter wheel, and we used each to grind metal with its stock wheels and also swapped in a high-performance wheel from Norton Abrasives. In each case we recorded how much time it took to remove ⅛ inch of mild steel. We learned that switching wheels is a neat way to boost grinding performance, especially on inexpensive machines. That's good news for thrifty tool shoppers. BEST OVERALL RANKING BALDOR 600E Price: $275 Amps: 3.1 Horsepower: 0.33 Stock wheel test: 24.16…

Probably not—your microwave is the likely culprit. Because AirPlay speakers receive signals over a wireless network, they're susceptible to interruptions from other electronics. And most microwaves and wireless signals operate in the same part of the radio spectrum, 2.4 GHz for routers and 2.45 GHz for microwaves. Though the majority of a microwave's energy is kept bouncing inside the box's metal walls, a tiny bit can get out. Even that bit can interrupt a wireless signal, which is beamed at about 28 milliwatts, a sliver compared with a microwave's 1000 watts. "An analogy would be having a conversation with a soft-spoken person in a crowded room," says Steven Spangler, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Iowa. "You are trying to listen to the faint signals from the…

Battle of the Lifesaving Robots In late December there will be a gathering of androids, some of the most ambitious disaster-response robots ever devised, at a speedway outside Miami. More than a dozen teams will pit their designs against each other's to win the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC). Today's disaster-response robots are limited by where they can go and by what they can do when they get there. "The world is built for human beings," says DARPA program manager Gill Pratt. "Robots need to operate in that environment." During the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor accident in Japan, for example, wheeled robots needed time-consuming adaptations to be able to climb stairs, and in contaminated areas could do nothing but stare at valves that could have been shut to limit the release…

Four years ago, when I was a magazine editor, I bought one of the first consumer 3D printer kits. It was one of the early MakerBot Cupcakes and it barely worked, but it blew my mind. It also changed my life. Today I've moved from media to manufacturing: I run 3D Robotics, a drone company with a big electronics and assembly factory in Tijuana, Mexico. (Yes, a Tijuana drone factory. Beat that, sci-fi!) How is it possible for a magazine editor to become a high-tech manufacturer, essentially overnight? And how do you go from a bag-of-parts 3D printer to a full-scale factory? The answers are rooted in a revolution that's come to manufacturing over the past five years. The changes boil down to three ideas: desktop, digital, and cloud. DESKTOP…

AS CHOSEN BY THE REAL* EXPERTS SCIENTIST APPROVED! THE 5 WORST! Can a scientist watch a sci-fi movie and believe that it's good, even if it bends the laws of nature? The answer is yes—to a degree. "We can't count on science fiction to always get the science right," says Sidney Perkowitz, professor emeritus of physics, Emory University. "But we can count on it to generate excitement and interest in viewers." Perkowitz is among dozens of scientists and engineers we polled on their favorite sci-fi movies. Their opinions differed, of course, but a consensus emerged: A sci-fi film can be counted among the best if it has both scientific plausibility and cinematic merit. And if a movie has neither, well, see p. 86. Director Stanley Kubrick No. 1 2001: A…

If you already have an emergency kit, well done. Essentials such as first-aid supplies, jumper cables, gloves, a flashlight, duct tape, a tow strap, and some simple tools should already be in your trunk—if not for daily driving, then at least when you set out on a road trip. Here are some winter-specific items to include for times when the roads are covered in slush. Snow Socks: When you unexpectedly need extra traction, snow socks are a space-saving, temporary alternative to snow chains. These fabric doughnuts fit easily over the drive tires and can increase grip enough to extricate a stuck car or get it up a slippery hill. Spare Phone Charger: The cellphone is your primary means of rescue in today's interconnected world. But to reach help you need…

We suggest using hexhead concrete screws, which are sturdy enough for this type of application and are easy to install. They don't require the use of additional plastic or metal anchors, so there's little more to do than drill, clean, and drive. First, start with a good-quality fastener, such as a ¼-inch Buildex Tapcon (above) or Simpson Strong-Tie Titen screw. To figure out the correct fastener length, add an inch to the thickness of the item you wish to mount. "It's extremely important to choose the right length of screw, since much of the fastener's strength is derived from how deeply it's embedded," says Chris La Vine, a senior engineer with Simpson Strong-Tie. However, more is not necessarily better. Increased depth can lead to installation issues, such as stripped fasteners…

WHEE!! 2600–2200 B.C.: Egyptians build the world's first paved road. Workers later add wooden tracks and sleds to haul stones from the quarries to early construction sites. 1822: Clement Clarke Moore captures the quintessential Santa Claus, sleigh and all, in a poem. A year later the verse is published as Account of a Visit from St Nicholas. 1870: Sweden's kicksleds are like reverse mullets, with a chair-mounted party in the front and someone running in the back. Sledders eventually ditch riders and start to race. 1889: Farm equipment manufacturer Samuel Leeds Allen patents the Flexible Flyer, named for its T-shaped runners and wooden crosspiece that allow hand or foot steering. MUSH, HELL BEASTS! POPPIN' AWHEELIE, BRAH 1925: A Siberian husky named Balto and his team of sled dogs…