As seen in Popular Mechanics. As the U.S. Air Force’s newest and priciest fighter, the F-22A Raptor is the most advanced aircraft in the sky—but that doesn’t mean it always works. Last week, the Department of Defense issued a statement about a hapless pilot from … Read More →
Tag Archives: Popular Mechanics
(Personal) Airspace
As seen in Popular Mechanics. Come fly the friendly skies—standing up. In an effort to cram ever more people into the limited confines of a commercial airliner, at least one aircraft manufacturer has suggested getting rid of the seats altogether. Airbus has offered Asian carriers … Read More →
How You’ll Live Forever (Almost)
A gatefold in the May 2006 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. The Census Bureau says life spans will climb nearly 10 years in the next half-century. We think that’s just the beginning. [Read the rest in PDF format here.] Click the image to read the … Read More →
The Most Fuel-Efficient Engine, Ever
As seen in Popular Mechanics. With gas prices on the rise, you might want to put down the keys to your hybrid and get behind the wheel of a ride powered by a black hole. According to a new study by researchers at Stanford University … Read More →
Drone Wars
As seen in Popular Mechanics. A new crop of Air Force UAVs is in development, and the new autonomous vehicles are prepared to cruise at an altitude of over 70,000 ft. The craft, designated Penetrating High Altitude Endurance (PHAE), will likely operate over defended, hostile … Read More →
The Bees Knees of Aviation
As seen in Popular Mechanics. With Mother Nature on their side, insects don’t need parachutes to maneuver in the air— just instinct and some cool body parts. Two recent studies give engineers a lesson in how to create appendages perfectly adapted to aviation. Ever watch … Read More →
New Crash Raises Old Questions on V-22′s Safety Record
As seen in Popular Mechanics. The hard landing last week of a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey in New River, NC, cost the military over $1 million, and may throw the safety of the controversial V/STOL transport back into question, according to military.com. The tiltrotor aircraft … Read More →
Getting Your Zzzzz’s
As seen in Popular Mechanics. Can’t find a doctor to help you shake your sleepwalking habit? It might be because the United States lacks the capacity to treat people with sleep disorders, according to a study released today by the Institute of Medicine. According to … Read More →
The Pleasure Pathway
As seen in Popular Mechanics. Drugs for Parkinson’s disease causing an addiction to gambling and sex? It may be because the medicine is affecting the brain’s pleasure center, according to a recent study by neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh. Published in the current issue … Read More →
Urban Robo-Rally
As seen in Popular Mechanics. For a cool $2 million, any human driver would obey traffic laws, merge correctly, stay in their lane, and avoid a crash at a busy intersection. But a robot? Well, that’s a different story. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency … Read More →