Popular Mechanics, February 2008

Written by BlueFox on 2:27:00 PM

Super Boats
Radical new designs go faster, farther -- even fly!

Alaska’s Energy Surprise
At Chena Hot Springs Resort, a visionary owner and an ingenious engineer tap a low-temperature geothermal system -- not fossil fuels -- to produce electricity, heat buildings and soon, they hope, generate hydrogen.

The Fire Birds
Last fall, as California burned, the Forest Service called oldschool pilots in aging tankers and spotter planes into battle. The flying was aggressive and dangerous, but that’s what it takes to fight fire on the front lines.

Anatomy of a NASCAR Crash
Stock car racing is home to fast cars, steely drivers and spectacular crashes. Yet the sport has never been safer.

DIY Tech
Build a media server.

PDF | 14.8 MB

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Popular Mechanics, April 2008

Written by BlueFox on 2:13:00 PM

Dispatch From the Oil Frontier
Ever-increasing fossil fuel demand has companies going farther and digging deeper for oil than ever before. We visit one high-tech drilling rig stationed in the ultradeep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Plus: A snapshot of the world's current resources -- how long they'll last and what we can do about it.

Southern Exposure
2008 House of the Year has the classic charm of a vintage low-country cottage -- coupled with a solid structure that can withstand ocean salt, hurricanes and earthquakes.

Haptics -- The Technology of Touch
Remote-control robot surgeons, virtual buttons that feel real, video games that hit back. The new world of force feedback is just getting started -- but it will change the way we interact with our machines.

New Cars: American Hero
Dodge's new Challenger puts a modern twist on an old favorite. Plus: Anatomy of the new Honda CBR motorcycle; we test drive European diesel sedans; and a master spy signs off.

PDF | 18.2 MB

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Popular Mechanics, May 2008

Written by BlueFox on 9:43:00 AM

Special Report: Rebuilding America
Major infrastructure failures, from the New Orleans levees in 2005 to the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis in 2007, are proving that the country’s concrete-and-steel underpinnings are in trouble.

Separated at Birth
A Mazda3 and Volvo C30 look different -- but beneath the surface they’re nearly identical. Automakers save millions by sharing parts among vehicles. What does that mean for consumers?

Mac vs. PC
This computer rivalry has been elevated to a cultural divide on par with Pepsi versus Coke. Taking it beyond personal taste, PM crunches the numbers -- with some surprising results.

Planespotting
There are people who hate flying. And then there are people who love it so much that between flights they gather at airports just to watch the aircraft take off and land. Meet the planespotters.

PDF | 21.5 MB

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