Popular Mechanics articles from December 2006

Popular Mechanics archives from December 2006

What are the odds?(risk dislike increases)(Editorial)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I FELL OFF MY mountain bike the other day and broke a finger. Oh, well. To me, this is an acceptable risk in my chosen sport. And to be honest, as editors at POPULAR MECHANICS we know that compared to the risks faced by many of the people we...

Cleared for takeoff.(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... As a kid, I would spend my days at Womble's Drug Store in Sacramento reading from the magazine rack. POPULAR MECHANICS was one of my favorites. I particularly loved the articles about flying wings and airships. Recently, I purloined an issue...

Cannon fodder.(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Here's a safer alternative to the spud gun ("Cheap Thrills," Oct. 2006): My daughter and I built a cannon that can launch a marshmallow 50 yards using air pressure, a tire valve instead of igniter screws, and a PVC valve to release the...

Nuclear debate, Part II.(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... The real reason to develop advanced reactors ("The Next Atomic Age," Oct. 2006) is to increase the use of clean, affordable, safe energy. These reactors also can increase the utilization of large stores of used nuclear fuel, which will reduce...

How-to rally.(Letters)
December 1, 2006... POPULAR MECHANICS is looking for reader innovations to feature in an upcoming issue. Go to popular mechanics.com for more info.

Correction.(Correction notice)
December 1, 2006... In "The Next Atomic age," we mislabeled a photo. Seen here is Patrick Moore, chair and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd. WHAT DO YOU THINK? WRITE TO US Include your full name, address and phone number, even if you...

PM party!(Popular Mechanics)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Winners of the POPULAR MECHANICS 2006 Breakthrough Awards (see November issue), sponsored by Newegg.com, gathered in the recently opened Hearst Tower, 1. (From left) Aerospace pioneer Burr Rutan tests a poverty-fighting peanut sheller with...

Diesel refined.( JCB Dieselmax)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Streaking across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the JCB Dieselmax didn't break the diesel land speed record of 236 mph--it destroyed it. The car hit 328 mph on its first run, and 350 mph on its second. "The goal was to set history in terms...

Built for bravery.(new robot to help Army developed by Vecna Technologies)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Battlefield Extraction-Assist and Retrieval robot--BEAR for short--would be hilarious if its job weren't so serious. A prototype has managed to pick up a human-weighted dummy and hold it for over 3 hours while rolling on treads. The robot's...

Free-flowing oil.(electric or magnetic field make oil flow better)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Physicists at Temple University have found a way to make sludgelike crude oil flow more quickly through pipelines. Applying an electric or magnetic field makes impurities dump together, allowing the oil to flow more easily for several hours--at...

Fish responders.(bluegills to secure public water utilities)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... In the battle to keep public water supplies safe from terrorist attacks, utilities in New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are putting fish on the front fine. A biomonitoring system developed by the U.S. Army Center for Environmental...

Flappy day.(University of Toronto achieves manned flight )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A team from the University of Toronto has achieved manned flight in a wing-flapping ornithopter. The power needed to flap a human into the sky is difficult to control--the flight covered about 365 yards in 14 seconds before one of the wings...

Tracking traffic.(Traffic Aid to control traffic at Florida and Georgia )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A new service called Traffic Aid will steer subscribers away from traffic-dogged routes. The system creates a moving map using the tracking signals that are periodically sent from drivers' cellphones to relay towers, and will roll out in...

Man-eating eagles.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Ancient birds of prey probably feasted on our early human ancestors, according to researchers at Ohio State University. While examining monkey remains found near eagles' nests on Africa's Ivory Coast, anthropologists discovered skulls punctured...

Flying solo: as two personal helicopters duel for aerial supremacy, flying by the seat of your pants is taking on new meaning.(AirScooter II and the Gen H-4 being developed by George Jetson)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Neither one is quite George Jetson's jet pack, but these two new ultralight helicopters are about as bare-bones as a flying machine can get: an engine to spin two sets of rotor blades, and a chair hanging underneath. The key to the AirScooter...

Resident astronaut: to cut costs, NASA plans to outsource its shipping jobs.(International Space Station)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... It's not a glamorous mission--hauling water, food, spare parts and clean clothes to the International Space Station (ISS)--but somebody has to do it. The shuttle was the truck of choice when my crew delivered the Destiny Laboratory to the ISS...

Forecasting pain: forget lasers, phasers and other beam weapons--radiofrequency devices are here, and they're set to "sting.".
December 1, 2006... No longer a gleam in the Pentagon's eye, ray guns--or radiofrequency (RF) weapons, to be exact--officially have arrived. As troops are increasingly forced to serve as an ad hoc police force, nonlethal weapons have become a priority for the...

Screen test.(TECHWATCH)(electronic paper)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... ELECTRONIC PAPER has to live up to a tot of hype. Billed as the end of the printed page as we know it, the technology uses an electric charge to make tiny particles of dye rise to the surface of a screen, forming crisp letters or images....

Time machine: 1927.(TECHWATCH)(electric floor scrubber from Black & Decker Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... SEVENTY-NINE years ago this month, PM featured amateur mechanic Arthur Capron's plans for an electric floor scrubber. Making this homemade, plug-in scrubber would have been no small feat--Capron's plans required two interlocking brushes, a...

Upgrade wish list 2007.(GEAR + TOOLS + TOYS)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2006... Winter is a harsh mistress, unleashing cold snaps, ice storms--and a happy, brief blizzard of holiday products. Here's our guide to the best gear to give, get or simply pine for this year, in categories ranging from high-tech foul-weather...

Seeing new depths: high-tech test dive: Will the spread of bubble-free rebreather systems change diving forever?
December 1, 2006... Technology is opening all sorts of places to human exploration, including areas of the sea previously too remote to spend much time lingering in. I had occasion to reflect on whether this is a good or a bad thing when I went scuba diving with a...

Monster media center PC: we created a couch-controllable, HDTV-ready computer--and we're giving it away.(EXTREME FREEBIE)
December 1, 2006... YOU'D HAVE TO BE CRAZY to build your own PC these days. Value and selection have never been greater--Dell and HP are selling computers for under $300 that are more than adequate for Internet surfing and home office use. Plus, constructing a...

Contrary crossover: the all-new Dodge Nitro has machismo practically oozing from its beefy sheetmetal.(DaimlerChrysler AG. Dodge Div.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Once a unique automotive concept, the crossover has recently become so ubiquitous, it's hard to tell one from another. Happily, you should have no trouble spotting a Nitro. Based on a stretched and updated Jeep Liberty chassis, the Nitro is...

Power to a few: BMW M6 Convertible.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I may as well have been driving for the checkered flag at Daytona instead of wheeling along the narrow, twisting two-lane roads of southern France. That's how competently the BMW M6 Convertible moves flat out. But unlike pure racers, this...

The quiet man: Chrysler Sebring.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A day spent in the mountains east of San Diego proved the new Sebring is a competent car over undulating back roads. But it also proved that the Sebring doesn't want to be driven like a sport sedan. The car prefers comfort to speed and is...

Power, poise and safety: Volvo S80.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Our test drive in Sweden, along the Baltic Sea, showed that the new S80 is as quiet and comfortable as any luxury sedan. But while the ride is gentle and nicely controlled, the car is no cream puff. The Yamaha-built 311-hp V8 comes standard...

Subtly better: BMW X3 3.0si.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The folks at BMW would have you call their X3 3.0si a Sports Activity Vehicle to differentiate it from the endless sea of crossovers. Nice try. The reality is that this vehicle is every bit a crossover. And as my test drive through Bavaria...

Clean getaway: Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... We love unassuming sedans that can suck the headlights right out of a sports car. When that sedan happens to be a diesel, it's even more delicious. Enter the $52,325 E320 Bluetec. With 400 lb.-ft. of torque--available from just off idle at 1600...

Seen in Paris.(Dodge Avenger from DaimlerChrysler AG. Dodge Div.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Been wanting a new Dodge sedan, but nothing as big as a Charger? Well, the Dodge boys showed their Avenger concept at the auto show in Paris back in October. While much was made of the car being ideal for international markets, it clearly is...

Smaller SUV.(sport utility vehicle Ford EcoSport from Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Smaller SUV Ford builds and sells the EcoSport in Mexico. It is smaller and more economical than the Escape. Ford says that the cost of building the EcoSport for the U.S. market is only a bit less than the cost of building an Escape. So, the...

Front-Drive Minivan.(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Front-Drive Minivan This new family hauler is slated for Chevrolet and GMC dealerships only, due late in '07 as a 2008 model. To make room for this, its first front-drive minivan, and the Acadia SUV, GMC will lose the Envoy. This prototype was...

Revamped HHR.(General Motors Corp. Chevrolet Motor Div.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Revamped HHR Chevrolet is planning a major facelift for its HHR. That means a new front end, with more angular, trucklike lines replacing the curved forms of the current model. Other differences are minor, and the sheetmetal aft of the cowl...

Someone says ...(Rick Wagoner of General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... RICK WAGONER, General Motors CEO, commenting on a possible alliance with Renault-Nissan: "GM sells more than 9 million vehicles a year globally. It's not logical or responsible to say we need a partner to recover."

How sweet it is.(ultralow-sulfur diesel)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The new "clean" diesels, such as Mercedes Bluetec, require ultralow-sulfur fuel, which is finally becoming available. This fuel has 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur. Minimizing sulfur is critical for the particulate filter at the heart of...

Fading spark.(homogeneous charge compression ignition engine from General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition engine is a gas engine that emulates a diesel. The combustion process occurs almost simultaneously throughout the chamber--usually without the need for a spark. This compares with a flame starting at...

The threat is out there: more than 100,000 asteroids hurtle past our planet. But only one--that we know of--may hit us in the next 30 years.
December 1, 2006... FRIDAY THE 13TH OF APRIL 2029 could be a very unlucky day for planet Earth. At 4:36 am Greenwich Mean Time, a 25-million-ton, 820-ft.-wide asteroid called 99942 Apophis will slice across the orbit of the moon and barrel toward Earth at more...

Is your car smarter than you are: the computing power of the family car has grown exponentially. The question is: do we like it?
December 1, 2006... Early in December 2005, Debbi Dixon was running late for dinner, so the medical lab technician pushed her 2004 Subaru Outback a little harder than normal down Swanee Bean Road. "It was already winter here in Thetford, Vt.," she says, "and the...

The digital ice age: the documents of our time are being recorded as bits and bytes with no guarantee of future readability. As technologies change, we may find our files frozen in forgotten formats. Will an entire era of human history be lost?
December 1, 2006... WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS Nimitz takes to sea, it carries more than a half-million files with diagrams of the propulsion, electrical and other systems critical to operation. Because this is the 21st century, these are not unwieldy paper...

Giving back: the generosity of a Brooklyn firehouse comes full circle.
December 1, 2006... If you start a conversation with a firefighter at Brooklyn's Watkins Street company--Ladder 120/Engine 231--be prepared for it to be cut short. The firehouse is one of New York City's busiest, with more than 4200 runs a year--including 180...

Jumbo trouble: the Airbus A380 was supposed to be the future of aviation. Will it ever get off the ground?
December 1, 2006... THE WEATHER OVER MUCH OF WESTERN EUROPE On Sept. 4 was, in pilotspeak, severe clear--ideal conditions for the first flight of the world's largest passenger airplane with "civilians" on board. Carrying nearly 500 Airbus employees, the A380 took...

Counter resurgency: kitchen work surfaces for every taste and budget.(HOME JOURNAL)
December 1, 2006... Of all the choices to make in a new kitchen, none get more attention than the countertop material--simply because there are so many options. There are dozens of new products available, ranging from stone to acrylic, with prices running as high...

Stripping cable: a few basic tools and a deft touch are all you need to do this work.(HOME JOURNAL: SKILL SET)
December 1, 2006... Stripping a wire is about as basic as mechanical work gets, but it's surprisingly easy to damage a conductor as you remove its insulation or the sheathing over the insulation. Doing so creates a vulnerable point in a home's electrical...

Pressure regulator.(HOME JOURNAL: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(adjusting the flow of incoming water )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Q Is the Pressure regulator on an incoming water line adjustable? The pipes bang when I flush a toilet or abruptly let off pressure on a garden hose nozzle. A Yes, the regulator is adjustable and you should try adjusting it before...

Clog busting the kitchen drain.(HOME JOURNAL: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(keeping kitchen drain clean)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... My kitchen drain clogs and is not easily cleared. I've tried a plunger, but since the sink is a double-bowl type, the plunger force is inadequate. How can I keep the trap clear? Be sure that your dishwashing habits are not contributing to...

Split decision.(wood splitters)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Running a small maple sugar operation at my farm in upstate New York, I burn dozens of cords of wood every sugaring season to boil down sap. Recently, I tried out four moderately priced wood splitters. I learned that each was up to the task for...

Adding attic insulation.(HOME JOURNAL: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... My attic has 6 in. of insulation, but I'd like to add more. How do I go about installing it? It's easy to add insulation, but first use a can of spray foam insulation to seal any openings (including holes for electrical wires and pipes)...

Hanging power strips.(TRADESMAN TIP)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... POWER STRIPS ARE not difficult to install, but putting their mounting screws in the right location can be a bit tricky. Try this: Apply a piece of tape to the strip's back and use a pencil to punch holes through the tape, centered in the...

Too many amps?(HOME JOURNAL: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(circuit breakers in electrical panel box)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... My 200-amp electrical panel box has 400 amps' worth of circuit breakers. Is this safe? Yes. It's better to have many individual circuits than fewer circuits with larger electrical loads. Also, not every circuit will be energized at the...

Ugly cabinets.(HOME JOURNAL: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(painting kitchen cabinet)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... My 1970s-era kitchen cabinets are dark-colored and kind of ugly. Otherwise, they're in good condition. I'd like to paint them a lighter color, but how? Two coats of Insl-x Cabinet Coat (insl-x.com) should work. It's a water-based...

Products to get the job done: help for damaged fasteners, garage storage, home protection and loud work environments.(EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... GRIP-TITE SOCKETS $25 for 7-piece set Grip-Tite sockets work on ordinary bolt heads and nuts, but also on those that have had their corners rounded off. Even better is that the sockets hold a bolt and keep it from falling out when the...

Reattaching a rearview mirror.(CAR CARE)
December 1, 2006... All you can see in your rearview mirror is grille. There are lots of shiny chrome teeth, all the better to chew up your tiny little economy car, and spit out a stream of nuts, bolts, glass and a hank of hair. It has the makings of a bad B...

Cable woes.(Auto Clinic)(using lubricants)
December 1, 2006... The cable that runs from my cruise control unit to the throttle is sticky. It hangs up and won't let the cruise control engage. I went to the dealer to get a replacement cable, but the technician said he couldn't even order one because my car...

When two become as one.(Auto Clinic)(making Ford Expedition run smooth)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... My 2000 2wd Ford Expedition's rear brake drum/rotor is rusted fast to the axle. It has a tight slip fit to the axle boss. I have put penetrating oil on this joint, and subjected it to torsion and light hammer blows and wedges driven between the...

Highlights from technical service bulletins.(SERVICE TIPS)(antitheft lock mechanism, tire pressure warning system sensors)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Does the door-lock cylinder of your 2005-06 V-W Jetta spin around like a windmill when you try to use the key to open it? Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 06-01 says it's supposed to do that, at least if you're pushing in on the key as you try...

Follow the leader.(Auto Clinic)(usage of tow dolly)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I have always heard that you can damage a car's automatic transmission by towing it (like behind a motorhome). Yet, I always see RVs pulling cars with just a tow bar. Are there any good reasons that I should invest in a tow dolly? Not all...

Slow boil.(Auto Clinic)(climate control in a car)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I have a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8-liter V6 with 140,000 miles. The car runs quite well, but no matter what setting the climate control is on (automatic, split zone, upper dash, lower dash, combo), the vast majority of the air comes out of...

Double-decker discs.(dvd burners)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I'm interested in a new DVD burner and I've noticed that many new burners are dual-layer drives. How do these things work and will the discs play in nondual-layer drives and DVD players? A standard single-layer recordable DVD can carry...

ExpressCard.(new expansion card on the block)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... You'll notice a change to the side of your next laptop. The PC Card expansion slots that you know and love are disappearing in favor of a new standard: ExpressCard. According to Richard Shim, an analyst at the technology market research...

Map quest.(Tech Clinic)(using window navigation system all over the world)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I recently bought a small, stick-to-the-window navigation system, and I use it all the time. But I travel a lot and I am wondering if it will work in foreign countries. If so, where can I get the map data? From a hardware standpoint, the...

Clean slate.(Tech Clinic)(cleaning temporary internet files)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I don't like to leave temporary Internet files, cookies and browsing history on my computer after my Web surfing sessions. Is there any automated way to clean up after myself when I shut down my browser? In Internet Explorer, automatically...

Aerodynamics engineer.(Aron Oakley of )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... ARON OAKLEY breaks 100 mph in his Ford Focus Midget racer, but the 28-year-old is used to higher speeds at his day job. As the aerodynamics engineer for Penske Racing's NASCAR team, Oakley oversees wind-tunnel testing at the team's Mooresville,...