Popular Mechanics articles from January 2003

Popular Mechanics archives from January 2003

Halls of fame. .(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... I've just had the honor of being elected chairman of the Automotive Hall of Fame. I don't know whether you've ever been to this beautiful facility, but I'll tell you something--if you're at all into cars or history, you're missing a real treat...

Life beneath the sea. .(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... As a boat owner for more than 50 years, I was wondering how you'll keep the bottom of the Trilobis clean--nevermind clean enough to see through. If some miraculous technology is in the works to eliminate bottom painting, scraping and sanding,...

Centennial Tour. .(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... Your story about the POPULAR MECHANICS Centennial Tour was very interesting. May I suggest you take another tour, coast to coast, but this time drive a bus that uses a fuel cell and hydrogen fuel. You could include stories about the fuel cell...

King of MP3s.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... Your article says that the Archos Jukebox packs more capacity than Apple's iPod. However, according to Apple's Web site, the latest iPod equals your "king's" capacity, weighs nearly half as much, has 2 hours more battery life and works...

Great guns.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... I was pleasantly surprised that a major publication took a common-sense approach to firearms. I agree with your statement that a gun is only a tool, not a coiled rattlesnake. I applaud your suggestion that people should contact the NRA, the...

Reader project of the month.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... My grandfather, Ernest Fischer, began building this model of the clipper ship Flying Cloud in 1928 from instructions that appeared in POPULAR MECHANICS. He finished much of the ship, including the hull and most of the decking. In 1989 my...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2003... Our Tech Watch item "Ultimate Welding Challenge" incorrectly identified David Strait, the NASA quality inspector who spotted the cracks in the space shuttle fuel line, as Jerry Goudy, who was actually the welder who successfully made the...

Time machine.(from the pages of Popular Mechanics)
January 1, 2003... 100 Years Ago: January 1903 Strange Foot The British-built Pedrail was a traction engine that walked on "feet" that were attached to rollers. The machine could climb stairs, and "paused not for ruts, curb stones and boulders." Even...

Human-robot aerial combat. (Technology Watch).(Gran-Duc from Dassault Aviation)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation has begun work on a new unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Called the Gran Duc, it will be a larger version of the previously introduced 8 x 8-ft. Petit Duc prototype. Flight testing with the...

Computer-assisted knee surgery. (Technology Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... "Many surgeons, including myself, were making judgments that were not as precise as they could be because we had no specific data," says Dr. Kenneth Krackow, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the State University of New York in Buffalo. So...

Understanding infections. (Technology Watch).( E. coli bacteria)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... An atom-by-atom computer model of the structure of a key part of the E. coli bacteria has been created at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The component, a part of the ribosome that decodes DNA instruction, consists of...

New shape of transistors. (Technology Watch).(overlapping carbon nanotubes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... IBM researchers say they have found a way to build tiny transistors by overlapping carbon nanotubes, as shown above. They detailed their research at the annual International Electron Devices meeting in San Francisco last September. The...

Seeing future heart attacks. (Technology Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Patients rushed to emergency rooms with chest pains may find themselves whisked to the MRI lab. The imaging device, which is commonly used to assess brain injuries and diagnose cancer, also can determine a person's risk of a heart attack, says...

Orderly disorder. (Technology Watch).(composition of amorphous materials)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Chemists describe glass and liquids as amorphous--that is, lacking an organized molecular structure. While watching his children play in a ball-filled playpen, James D. Martin of North Carolina State University (NCSU) realized that this classic...

Making a perfect connection. (Technology Watch).(nanotube)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Engineers have cleared a critical hurdle in using nanotubes in circuits. The chemical property of carbon tubes makes them electrically perfect wires, but initially it posed a problem. "No one knew if junctions could be created," says Pulickel...

Rail gun to toy gun. (Technology Watch).(Star Sports' AeroMagic)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... John Hunter, a designer for the electric rail-gun project featured in POPULAR MECHANICS in December 1996, has created a toy version. Instead of firing projectiles into orbit, it shoots foam rings across the lawn. Called Aero-Magic, the gun...

Planet watch. (Technology Watch).(earthquakes and weather)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... * ALASKA The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was briefly shut down after an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck an isolated region 75 miles south of Fairbanks on Nov. 3. At press time, police reported only one injury. * ITALY...

Earth emits a life signal. (Technology Watch).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... By observing the faint light of the Earth reflected off the moon, astronomers have found a clue to detecting planets capable of supporting life. Water and oxygen in the atmosphere give the light--earthshine--a distinctive "fingerprint of life,"...

Pregnant crash test dummy. (Technology Watch).(Volvo Car Safety tests)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Information gleaned from a "pregnant" crash test dummy could save thousands of lives a year. About 160 pregnant women die annually in car accidents. The fetal death rate is strikingly higher, nearly 3800, according to the University of...

Smarter than it looks. (Technolgy Watch).(Timbot)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... What Timbot lacks in size it makes up for in brains. The toy truck has been upgraded with a video camera, sensors and an on-board computer. The result is a truck that can make second-by-second driving decisions. Developed by engineers at the...

U.S. challenges European air shows. (Technolgy Watch).(Mesquite, Nevada hosts World of Wings)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Mesquite, Nev., plans to become the home of the world's greatest aviation exposition. The 10-day event will sandwich a 5-day aviation trade show--similar to those in Paris, Farnborough, England, and Berlin--between two weekends of Unlimited...

Going for the gold. (Following Up ...).(search for the HMS Sussex)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Convinced that an expedition in search of the HMS Sussex has spotted the treasure-laden warship, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has given Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Fla., its approval to begin raising artifacts. The 80-gun...

Building big planes. (Following Up ...).(Airbus Industrie )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Airbus Industrie is putting the finishing touches on a new assembly plant to construct the A380, the flying hotel featured in our March 2001 issue. The planes that roll off the line, which will assemble components made throughout Europe, will...

Ergonomics with flair. (Computers).
January 1, 2003... My back hurts all the time and my wrists don't feel so hot either. Sometimes I get pains in my legs that I can't explain. Some of my discomforts can be attributed to getting older--sake. I'm 33, for God's sake. But like many people who work...

Dreaming in Japanese. (Electronics).(Ceatec, consumer electronics trade show)
January 1, 2003... You might wonder whether it's worth it to fly 13 hours to Japan to attend a trade show. When it's Ceatec, the largest consumer electronoic show of the year, it definitely is. The most recent Ceatec, in fact, attracted royalty--Japan's Crown...

Feel the tension. (Sports Science).(golf club design)
January 1, 2003... Right behind the ads for weight-loss plans, get-out-of-debt schemes and boudoir-performance aids that flood your e-mail inbox, are enticements for revolutionary new golf clubs that promise you longer and straighter drives. New golf dubs come to...

World's biggest plane. (Aviation).(the Antonov An-225, Mriya)
January 1, 2003... There is nothing on Earth or in the air quite like the Antonov An-225. Dwarfing a Boeing 747 and out-lifting a U.S. Air Force C-5A Galaxy, it can haul an expeditionary force into combat, or carry enough food to avert a famine. Yet, oddly, the...

Thomas Alva Edison. (Inventors).(research with X-rays )
January 1, 2003... For the October 1903 issue of POPULAR MECHANICS, Thomas Alva Edison wrote an article about his research with X-rays and the mysterious rays given off by radium, thorium and uranium. Yes, this is the same Edison who is famous for the phonograph,...

Long-Distance level. (It Worked For Me).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Reading changes in landscape elevation by eye alone can be very misleading. Even professionals with years of experience are frequently fooled by gentle slopes that look gradual but turn out to be much steeper. If you're dealing with a small...

Plastic bag covers paint tray. (It Worked For Me).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... It's good to recycle plastic bags from groceries or other shopping excursions, but save a few for painting projects. One of the best uses for these bags is as a paint-tray liner. Slip the bag over the tray's well. Fill up the tray and paint as...

Glue applicator. (It Worked For Me).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The secret to a successful gluing operation is preparation. Once all the pieces have been dry fit and the clamps are on hand, you're ready to go--almost. Before you squeeze that plastic glue bottle, take a moment to figure out how you'll spread...

Hacksaw blade cover. (It Worked For Me).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Sliding binder bars are those small plastic clips that hold together written reports. They are sold in two forms, by themselves and with the plastic report covers. Usually, they are thrown away when the report is thrown out. But it's better to...

Helping hands. (It Worked For Me).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Most of us end up doing a lot of work around the house by ourselves. Everybody else is busy, off doing other things. At least that's what they tell us. And most of the time this is okay. Working by yourself can be a great way to relax. But...

Exhaling energy. (Chemistry).
January 1, 2003... Inhale. Exhale. Now pat yourself on the back. You have not only helped to reduce global warming but also expanded the world's energy supply. Okay, maybe the congratulations are a bit premature. So far only small amounts of carbon dioxide...

2003 Mazda6. (New Cars).
January 1, 2003... Family sedans don t have to be boring. And the new Mazda6 is proof. In fact, Mazda is billing its new mid-size as a genuine sport sedan, and used the sedans from Munich as its benchmark. The folks at Mazda have such confidence in the new car...

2003 Nissan Murano. (New Cars).
January 1, 2003... Being late to the party sometimes means you can be better dressed than those who came early. That's the case with Nissan and the burgeoning crossover SUV market. Finally producing a car-based sport utility, Nissan has done so with the panache...

2003 Lincoln Aviator. (New Cars).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Starting with the Ford Explorer and then adding important functional and luxury upgrades, Lincoln came up with the Aviator, its newest SUV. Yes, you may say Aviator is a thinly disguised version of the Explorer. But features such as a...

2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty. (New Cars).( new 5.7-liter Hemi Magnum)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Hemi lives--but not where you might expect. The legendary musclecar motor is now in a pickup truck. The new 5.7-liter Hemi Magnum, bearing little resemblance to its predecessors, is the standard engine in Dodge's new 2500 and 3500 series...

2003 BMW Z4. (New Cars).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... When a company is known for sedans and an SUV that are sportier than the competition's sports cars, its own sports car has to stand out from the crowd. In the case of BMW, the Z4 has to shoulder that burden. The 2-seat, open-top successor to...

2003 New Beetle Convertible. (New Cars).
January 1, 2003... VW has just upped the stakes in the "cute car" category with its New Beetle Convertible. Based on the standard-issue New Beetle, the Convertible comes with only a 115-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder for now. This comes standard with a 5-speed manual....

2003 Ford Super Duty Power Stroke. (New Cars).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The newly crowned King of Torque is Ford's 6.0-liter Power Stroke V8 delivering a dizzying 560 ft.-lb. of that all important twisting force. And it's available starting at 2000 rpm. By the way, the 6.0 makes 325 hp, too. The new engine replaces...

2003 Lincoln LS. (New Cars).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Look closely at the 2003 Lincoln LS and you'll see the refined headlights with integrated turn signals, the slightly altered grille, the revised taillights and rear license plate frame. Look inside the cabin and you'll spot the new trim items,...

2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. (New Cars).
January 1, 2003... Hot on the heels of the new E-Class sedan from Mercedes-Benz is the high-performance model, the E55 AMG. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. But with 469 hp and 569 ft.-lb. of torque, the car is capable of several mph more. Mercedes-Benz says the...

2005 Dodge Durango. (Detroit Spy Report).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Our lens caught an early prototype of Dodge's midsize SUV, the Durango, on the road outside the Motor City. Given that this is a 2005 development mule, it was pretty well camouflaged for its public appearance. Yet, a few important new details...

The future of the past. (Jay Leno's Garage).
January 1, 2003... It's funny when you watch old people, say, at a bank, using a touchscreen. They jab at it with their finger. They don't push it. They stab it thinking that will make some sort of a difference. Not to long ago, my dad said to me, "Let's play...

United States Marines antiterrorism force: special weapons and tactics of this new elite brigade. (Defense)(Cover Story).
January 1, 2003... Carefully adjusting the variable scope on top of the new sniper rifle, a unit marksman squinted toward the far end of the training site where a fellow Marine was removing his chemical protection mask. This is sweet," he chuckled. "I can look...

In the footsteps of Lewis and Clark: in honor of the bicentennial of the historic journey, the PM expedition team retraces the original route of the legendary explorers using modern technology in place of sheer force of will. (Adventure).
January 1, 2003... Blame it on Napoleon. In 1803, France's monomaniacal first consul needed funding for his renewed war with England. By selling a useless, indefensible chunk of North America to President Thomas Jefferson for 60 million francs, the canny...

King of all cellphones: the Sony Ericsson T68i brings together voice, chat and multimedia like no other cellphone. (Telecommunications).
January 1, 2003... The Sony Ericsson T68i is just about the hottest and slickest cellphone we've ever seen. Style, connectivity and gee-whiz technology made us fall in love with this phone. The T68i is an attractive package. It has a silver and blue body...

Fuel cells from sea to shining sea: cross-country in a fuel cell powered car. (Technology).(DamilerChrysler's NECAR 5)
January 1, 2003... Almost a century ago, Messrs H.N. Jackson and N.K. Crocker drove a Winton Touring Car from ocean to ocean. Since then, millions of people have duplicated the cross-country feat, and it has long lost its pioneering aura. Or at least it...

Scanning new horizons: new scanners take digital photography to a whole different level. (Imaging).(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2003... Think about digital imaging and a glitzy multimegapixel camera comes to mind. But if a digital camera is your only tool for digital photography, you're missing out on a big part of the picture. Digital imaging isn't just about photo files...

Cherry dresser: how to build a classic 5-drawer dresser. (Shop Project).
January 1, 2003... These days when you have a storage problem, the solution is usually a bigger hard drive or maybe a new CD burner. Personal space is defined in megabytes, and when you run short, you can't simply grab the nearest empty shoebox. Not so with the...

Learning "The Ropes ...". (Hot spot: the inside story on a healthy love life): Advertisement).(nutrional supplements for better sex)
January 1, 2003... This month I got a letter from a reader in Texas, about a "little secret" that has made her love life with her husband absolutely explosive. (Those Texans know their stuff, let me tell you.) Tina writes: Dear Jamie, Last month, my...

Good show: our best picks from the National Hardware Show. (Home Journal).
January 1, 2003... Popular Mechanics EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARDS The National Hardware Show is the quintessential gathering of gadgets, paint, tools and hardware. Think of it as an exponentially larger version of your local hardware store. But you could spend all...

Dripping relief valve. (Homeowners Clinic).(water heater repair)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... I have a problem with my water heater. About 2 to 3 cups of water per week will intermittently leak from the heater's pressure relief valve. I had the valve replaced, but the problem continues. Any advice? DAVID MARRERO INDIAN TRAIL, NC...

Review: the basics of home inspection. (Homeowners Clinic).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... People often ask us about what they can expect from a home inspection, both as a home buyer and as a seller. We don't know of a better overview of the inspection than this little brochure from the American Society of Home Inspectors. ASHI is a...

Stay clean with a spray sock. (Service tip: painting).(protective headgear)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Professional painters have the right idea when it comes to protecting themselves when they're spraying paint. They wear a pullover hood called a spray sock. It keeps their head, neck and hair clean. A large pair of goggles protects their eyes....

Cold galvanizing. (Homeowners Clinic).(painting metal)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... I was surprised to see, in your May 2002 Homeowners Clinic, that you advocated an oil-based paint for use on a chain-link fence to protect it from rust. Have you not heard of cold galvanizing paint? STAN CORBIN WESTMINSTER, CA I am...

Vinyl siding. (Homeowners Clinic).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Rather than painting our house's wood siding, we are considering having vinyl siding installed over it. Can you tell us about the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl siding? HARRY DITMORE HEYBURN, ID The problem with vinyl siding...

GreatGear: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2003... 1. Can You Ear Me? Chalk one up for "eargonomics." Jabra's new Bluetooth-enabled FreeSpeak earpiece for cellular phones is designed for comfort, convenience and sound quality. Its rechargeable lithium-polymer battery provides up to 3 hours...

It's a hit. (GreatGear).(Zooka personal pitching machine)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2003... The Zooka personal pitching machine may be able to turn your ball-shy 8-year-old into a confident hitter and fielder. The cordless machine sets up in 1 minute and uses compressed air to throw pitches ranging from easy lobs to 65-mph heaters....

Hands on. (GreatGear).(Timber Wolf hand cleaner)
January 1, 2003... There are a lot of hand cleaners out there that do a good job of cleaning your hands. Timber Wolf not only cleans, it safely removes grease, oil, creosote, tar, silicone gel and pipe dope. In addition, the waterless hand cleaner removes the sap...

American spirit. (GreatGear).(Corvette poster)
January 1, 2003... Corvette enthusiasts will covet this new 22 x 28 in. poster of a '62 Roadster photographed with the twin towers of the World Trade Center standing tall and proud in the background. The poster costs $14.95 plus $3.95 for shipping and handling....

Leaf me alone. (Auto clinic).(maintaining your heater)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Whenever I turn on the heater in my old pickup, there's a distinct odor of burning leaves. How can this be? Assuming the leaves could have gotten into the heater through the cowl, I didn't think the heater core got hot enough to ignite...

Fresh air fiend. (Auto clinic).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... What do you recommend to neutralize or eliminate cigarette smell in a car that has been used by a heavy smoker? TODD BAUDER VIA INTERNET I'd start by removing the floor mats and having them washed at a carwash. Shampoo the seats,...

Frosted. (Auto clinic).(defroster problems)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... I have a 1995 Dodge Spirit. A couple of months ago the digital clock on the stereo started to show some extra lines in the display. Also, a day after using the defroster, I pushed the button to turn the air back to the vents from the defroster...

Bugged. (Auto clinic).(getting rid of scratches)
January 1, 2003... A while back I bought a Toyota Tundra. One night the mosquitoes were really bad, and the whole front of the truck was covered with them, even the windshield. I went out the next morning and used a sponge, dish soap and warm water to remove...

Dealing with a low brake pedal. (Saturday Mechanic).
January 1, 2003... "Honey, can I borrow your car?" No problem. She tosses you the keys. But at the first stop sign you draw a startled breath--the pedal's going, going, almost gone! There's even a little dent in the carpet under the pedal. Didn't she notice?...

How to survive in a plummeting elevator. (Worst-Case Scenarios).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Say you're in an elevator in a high-rise office building, and the car begins to free-fall from the 65th floor. What do you do? Flatten you body against the car floor. While there is disagreement among the experts, most recommend this...