Popular Mechanics articles from March 2006

Popular Mechanics archives from March 2006

Lessons from the storm.(Editor's Notes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... WHEN YOU DRIVE the coastal roads of Louisiana and Mississippi, one of the first things you notice is trash in the trees. Along U.S. 90 between Gulfport and Biloxi, on Mississippi's brief shore, the grand beachfront houses are mostly gone--only...

Super speed.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Thank you for years of reading enjoyment. Your article "Salt Flat Dreams" reminded me of when I was a teenage hot rodder in Las Vegas. I always followed what was happening at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Now, living in Alaska, I have become a fan...

HDTV helper.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... You've made HDTV understandable to me ("HDTV Guidebook," Jan. 2006). Plug-and-play is my mantra, and CRT does that. JOHN LANDRETH CHAPEL HILL, NC Your HDTV article was a reasonable overview of HDTV offerings that use signals from...

Sound off.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Flight 3701 is a tragic reminder that if you break the rules, you're asking for trouble ("We Don't Have Any Engines," Jan. 2006). RICHARD EHRENBERG MARLBORO, NY The technology being developed in response to the DARPA Grand...

All eyes on Mars.(TECH WATCH: MAKING GAS FROM COWS REARVIEW HELMET FIGHTING FRIENDLY FIRE ROCKET-POWERED PLANES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Both of NASA's Martian rovers passed the two-Earth-year mark in January, far exceeding their expected lifetime of 90 days, thanks to dust storms that unexpectedly cleaned solar panels, careful driving through treacherous sand traps, and a bit...

Fire and (lots of) ice.
March 1, 2006... Photos of an Antarctic volcano blowing its top, taken by NASA's Terra satellite, are giving scientists a rare look at how hot rock interacts with ice and snow. Mount Belinda, located in the South Sandwich Islands, started spewing smoke and ash...

Sad rodents.(seasonal affective disorder treatment with blue-green LED lamp )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Scientists at Ohio State University have found that the more than 10 million Americans suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) aren't alone--sunlight-deprived hamsters get the winter blues, too. The study hopes to explore SAD, which is...

Redundancy dept.(European Union's Giovea satellite)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... With the launch of the GIOVEA satellite on a Russian Soyuz rocket (right), the European Union has begun testing the Galileo global navigational system. Expected to eventually total 30 satellites in Earth orbit, the system will be compatible...

Marital diss.(sharp-tongued spouse heal small wounds )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... A sharp-tongued spouse can keep injuries from healing, according to a study of married couples who were given small wounds and told to talk supportively or argue. Those who argued took, on average, 20 percent longer to heal fully.

Tiny enigmas.(quantum cryptography)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Scientists in the burgeoning field of quantum cryptography have found a way to store single photons in atomic memories, a crucial step toward creating unbreakable encryption keys.

Boarding soon.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The world's first all-commercial spaceport will be in a New Mexico desert, using spacecraft designed by X Prize winner Burt Rutan. Virgin Galactic plans to charge $200,000 per 3-hour space tour-which includes 5 minutes of zero g's--as early as...

Time machine.(TECH WATCH)(podcasting)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... PODCASTING HAS gone from fad to dictionary entry in less than two years. It is basically a Web-based version of amateur shortwave radio--which has been around for decades but still isn't quite mainstream. So why did podcasting get so hot so...

Squeezing gas from a cow: methane fuel derived from cow guts is already a reality in Europe.(TECHWATCH)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Next time you hail a cab in Sweden, there might be beef in your ride's tank. The city of Link6ping is running one train, 67 buses and 80 cabs entirely on biogas, a methane fuel made primarily from cow intestines and other slaughterhouse waste....

Heads-up hindsight.(TECHWATCH)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... A NEW MOTORCYCLE helmet with a periscope-like mirror system gives riders a clear view of the road behind them, so they don't have to turn their heads. By glancing up at a reflective polycarbonate panel mounted inside the helmet, the rider gets...

How do they know ... Whether an object is an asteroid or a planet?(TECHWATCH)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... ASTRONOMERS have no consistent rule for deciding what is a planet and what isn't. The discovery last summer of a so-called 10th planet--an object in our solar system that's larger than Pluto--is creating pressure on the International...

Friendly warning.(TECHWATCH)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Of the 148 U.S. combat deaths that occurred in the 1991 Gulf War, 35 were caused by friendly fire. And in both Afghanistan and Iraq, fratricide remains a harsh reality. The Pentagon and its NATO allies are developing combat identification...

Rocket racers: high-thrust airplanes are roaring toward the starting line.(TECHWATCH)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The lofty goal of the Rocket Racing League, a series pitting high-thrust airplanes in head-to-head competition, is to spur innovation in aerospace technology. But the appeal of rocket-powered planes tearing around a racecourse in the sky...

XL locking flex head ratcheting wrenches.(THE goods: Great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2006... The New GearWrench XL Locking Flex Head Combination Ratcheting Wrench combines all of the benefits of the GearWrench XL Combination Wrench and the GearWrench Flex Head Combination Wrenches The XL Locking Flex is up to 37% longer than the...

Show your spirit with new car art temporary paint from Dupli-Color[R].(THE goods: Great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Dupli-Color Products Co.'s Car Art Temporary Paint)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2006... Dupli-Color[R] Products introduces Car Art Temporary Paint. This product gives you the ability to apply temporary graphics to the painted surface of a vehicle from an aerosol can. Car Art is perfect for decorating any car, truck or van for a...

Out with the old ... ceiling fan: in with the new Reiker Room Conditioner.(THE goods: Great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)
March 1, 2006... It HEATS and cools! Replace ordinary ceiling fans with the new technology of the Reiker Room Conditioner. It works year-round providing the warmth of a room heater and the cooling breeze of a ceiling fan. Move from one function to the other...

Ryobi[R] offers a helping hand with the MultiTASKit.(THE goods: Great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)
March 1, 2006... Ryobi's newest gadget, the MuLtiTASKit, is the helping hand or personal assistant for do-it-yourselfers. It features the patented AIRgrip vacuum technology, which allows the MultiTASKit to adhere to walls and surfaces without leaving a mark....

Energy star.(UPGRADE: TITANIUM BOX CUTTER RC SPYPLANCE SMARTER SNEAKERS EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARDS)
March 1, 2006... The FreeCharge Weza ($269) is a portable battery and generator that relies on elbow grease. Make that ankle grease--stomping a step pedal cranks the generator and charges the battery. (It also can be juiced up with an AC or DC adapter.) The...

Sole machine.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The adidas_1 ($250)--a "smart" running shoe that uses a microprocessor to adjust to terrain changes--has been upgraded to "intelligence level 1.1." What makes this shoe so darned smart? A heel sensor measures compressions caused by the foot...

Editor's Choice Awards: this year, thousands of technology companies came to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Only 15 left with our top honors.(CES)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2006... Celestron SkyScout Aim the GPS-enabled SkyScout ($399) at the night sky and took through the sight. It can instantly identify the planet, star or constellation you're looking at. You also can locate celestial objects by browsing a list and...

Fighting fire with fire: by recreating an extinct virus that killed as many as 50 million people, scientists race to defeat avian flu before it evolves into a deadlier form.(SCIENCE)
March 1, 2006... Last spring, microbiologist Terrence Tumpey was at work in his office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta when a FedEx package arrived for him in the main reception area. Upon seeing the return address of his...

Cold comfort: harnessing Vermont's frigid winter to keep food cool and electricity usage down.(ENERGY FAMILY: Part Two)
March 1, 2006... Since the fall of 2005, my family has been on a quest to reduce our dependence on external energy sources in our northern Vermont home. We've been documenting our journey both in the magazine ("Living Unplugged," Dec. 2005, page 72) and at...

Big Brother is ticketing you: local governments love them. (More revenue!) Drivers hate them, (More tickets!) Are traffic cameras really the best way to improve safety?(DISSENTING OPINION: TRAFFIC CAMERAS)
March 1, 2006... Comics might say that the real purpose of traffic cameras is to let cops spend more time in doughnut shops. Cynics might contend that the devices are mostly intended to boost traffic-fine revenue. But cameras that photograph the license plates...

Popularity and passion: the new Camry's looks may not turn many heads, but the car's smooth performance and elegant interior will keep its owners smiling.(NEW CARS: FAMILY SEDANS HYBRID CROSSOVER LARGE SUVS FUTURE ROADSTERS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2006... Camry owners love their cars like they do their siblings--with a sincere but passionless devotion. So the folks at Toyota vowed to infuse the newest version of this best seller with some panache. After driving the 2007 Camry around Santa...

Switchable.(CHEVROLET TAHOE)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2006... Lots of carmakers talk about a vehicle that's "new from the ground up." Well, in the case of the 2007 ChevyTahoe (and its corporate cousin, the GMC Yukon), it's pretty close to true. GM's redo of these full-size SUVs started with a new frame....

Detroit spy report.(NEW CARS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... 1. Given the extent of the camouflage on this Silverado prototype, you'd think Chevy was hiding huge secrets. Actually, the changes are subtle. Close examination of the photo, taken near GM's Michigan proving grounds, reveals the headlight...

Wearing of the green.(SATURN VUE GREEN LINE)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The different kind of car company now has a different kind of hybrid. The Saturn Vue Green Line uses a battery pack that is charged by regenerative braking, like other hybrids. But to keep costs down, the Vue doesn't have a high-output electric...

Asia spy report.(NEW CARS)
March 1, 2006... 1. Honda hasn't had an entry-level convertible since the sun set on the targa-top Del Sol in the late '90s. The rumors coming out of Japan are saying that we'll see a Civic convertible within two years. If and when it arrives, you can expect...

Fresher swede.(SAAB 9-5)(Saab-Scania AB's new product)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Saab's flagship hasn't seen a clean-sheet redesign since there was a Democrat living in the White House. And it may have to wait for the next administration before it gets one. In the meantime, the Saab 9-5 sedan and 9-5 SportCombi (wagon)...

Europe spy report.(Land Rover UK Ltd. introduces Land Rover Freelander, Porsche AG enhances Porsche Cayenne and Daimler-Benz AG introduces Mercedes-Benz C-Class)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... 1. When we tell you that Land Rover's new Freelander will be based on the same underpinnings as the Volvo V50, S40 and the Ford Focus, you might wonder how well the vehicle will carry itself off-road. We're kind of interested ourselves to see...

An art form lost: owner's manuals once were more than a collection of warnings and cautions. They used to enhance ownership.(DOING THINGS MANUALLY)
March 1, 2006... As someone who likes to work on his own cars and motorcycles, I miss those old-style owner's manuals that told you how to do maintenance and repairs. For example, the 1939 Ford owner's booklet actually explains how the ignition points work and...

Road to the pole: driving where longitude and latitude meet.(Paid Promotion)
March 1, 2006... The road along the Ross Ice Shelf isn't really a road. It's more of a path across a frozen sea the size of France which, by the way, is floating north three-feet per day. Break through a crevasse and you'll be staring up at a cloudless sky...

Now what? The lessons of Katrina.(SPECIAL REPORT)
March 1, 2006... NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED. Not the federal agencies tasked with preparing for catastrophes. Not the local officials responsible for aging levees and vulnerable populations. Least of all the residents themselves, who had been warned for...

Deep in the heart of NASCAR country: it was a great idea: survive NASCAR's off-season by visiting its birthplace and some legendary tracks in a hemi-powered dodge charger. Life is good.
March 1, 2006... The Charger's suspension is compressed flat to the bump stops as it drifts up Darlington's banking. The steering is getting twitchy and so am I. The passenger side mirror nearly brushes the wall off Turn 1. The next turn comes quicker than I...

Extreme treehouses: there's no better proof of our primate heritage: man sees tree, man climbs tree, man uses opposable thumbs to build clubhouse in tree. Here are four masterpieces of the form. And yes, the other apes are probably jealous.
March 1, 2006... ANY KID IN BRIDGTON, MAINE, would want to have Peter Lewis's playhouse in his backyard. And no wonder. Lewis has tricked it out with a drawbridge and two spiral staircases. Best of all, the whole thing floats 21 ft. off the ground. Lewis,...

The PM diagnosis.(reasons for car smell)
March 1, 2006... Remember that new-car smell? Actually, new cars haven't had that smell since manufacturers took the solvents out of the glues in the interior in an attempt to save a lot of UAW members' livers. Oh well. But there are plenty of other smells...

Great cover-up: hide backyard clutter behind an elegant solid-cedar screen.(HOME JOURNAL: TOOLBOX PROJECT PLUGGING FOUNDATION LEAKS ADHESIVE INFO CLEANING VINYL SIDING)
March 1, 2006... What separates a great-looking home from the run-of-the-mill? You might think it's the BMW in the drive--but look again. Perhaps it's more what you don't see than what you do. Most homes have stuff outside. Some things are permanent, such...

Tools to go: buy the wood in the morning, put your tools away at night.(Classics: SIMPLE DO-IT-YOURSELF WEEKEND PROJECTS)
March 1, 2006... For generations, tradesmen of all persuasions have been banging together simple wooden boxes for their gear. Long and narrow for easy carrying, these toolboxes were little more than five boards and a heavy dowel handle. They were the ultimate...

Hydraulic cement plugs leak.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... After the last very heavy rain I noticed that water was leaking into my basement around the plastic conduit in the foundation wall. The conduit, which houses the inlet water pipe [from the street], was surrounded with a foam-type material that...

Inadequate toilet flush.(Homeowners Clinic)(maintenance and repair)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... I live in a one-year-old house with 2 1/2 bathrooms. One of the Kohler toilets doesn't flush properly. I have to keep holding the handle down for a full flush. Can this problem be fixed easily? E.F. Olivet, MI It sounds like the...

Exterior oil lines.(Homeowners Clinic)(suggestions for house boiler maintenance)
March 1, 2006... My house is heated with an oil-fired boiler. There is an aboveground oil tank on the south side of my house. Is it necessary to insulate the exposed oil supply lines during the winter months to keep the oil from getting sludgy? I haven't had...

With these six adhesives, you can make, or fix, just about anything.(Know You Stuff Adhesives)
March 1, 2006... CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE [WHAT IT IS] A blend of elastomers * and resins with water or solvent (or a polyurethane blend with limestone). It's usually extruded out of a tube, though trowel-grade types, which have a longer open or working...

Maintaining a water seal in fixtures.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... I have a home down South that I close up during the summer. To prevent the toilet's water from evaporating, I pour a layer of vegetable oil on top of it and then cover the bowl itself with plastic wrap. Is there a better way to prevent water...

Desperation is the mother of invention.(RANT)(nut and bolt assembly)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... I'm not proud of this, but there are times when something just has to go together, even if it's not pretty. That was the case recently when I was stuck while assembling a portable basketball pole and hoop. What a piece of garbage. The thing...

Ceiling fan speed.(Homeowners Clinic)(dimmer switch use)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Can a typical dimmer switch that is used to control the light output of incandescent lighting fixtures also be used to vary the speed of a paddle-type ceiling fan? LARRY SORCHER Freehold, NJ No. Dimmer switches used for lighting...

Reader feedback.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... In a recent issue of PM we discussed The Hood Co.'s Restora, a coating for restoring the sheen to faded vinyl siding and trim. Several readers had their own suggestions. Bill Fisher Lexington, OH Bill Fisher wrote to say he'd...

Tips and Techniques for Drywall.(BOOKSHELF)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... When it comes to interior finishing, properly installed drywall is the first step to a room that's crisp and pleasing. Learning how to install this ubiquitous building material requires the kind of pro-level information that this book delivers....

How to replace a fender.
March 1, 2006... SATURDAY MECHANIC DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY MODERATE Pickup truck owners have lots of friends. My pickup is regularly borrowed to move everything from cordwood and college kids to upright pianos and snowblowers. When it was new I...

It can tear you apart.(Auto Clinic)(suggestions to replace automobile engine)
March 1, 2006... Q I'm trying to replace the engine in my car with a used one because I can't afford to have the old one rebuilt. I have the new (old) engine in my garage, and it still has all the fuel-injection hoses and stuff. This is probably easy--but how...

Miles per?(Auto Clinic)(suggestions for maintaining Chrysler Pacifica )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q As an electronics technician for over 25 years, my curiosity got the best of me. I just purchased a Chrysler Pacifica with digital readouts for instantaneous and average miles per gallon. What is the source of information for this data? Is it...

Getting bent.(Auto Clinic)(water pump installation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q The water pump on my 1990 Geo Storm GSi seized and tore some teeth off of the timing belt. I installed a new water pump and a new timing belt. I aligned the marks on the cam sprocket with the deck of the cam box, like I was supposed to. The...

Ol' blood and guts.(EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD)(Dupli-Color Shield)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Going on that annual midsummer cross-country pilgrimage soon? Dreading spending hours at home getting all the dead bugs off the front of the car afterward? Not to mention the stone chips on the hood and fenders? You can spend big bucks on a...

Service tips: help from vehicle makers tech bulletins.(Auto Clinic)(Toyota, Volkswagen)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Does the flux-gate compass installed in the rearview mirror sometimes lead you astray? Toyota has a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) PD013-05 that explains why and how to set up the compass to account for the Earth's magnetic deviation and any...

Free to be USB.(Tech Clinic)(suniversal serial bus)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q How many USB devices can I hook up to my PC at one time? Is there a limit? A At first the answer seems pretty simple: 127. That's the number of devices, including USB hubs, that a single USB host adapter--the device that links USB...

Root of all evil.(Tech Clinic)(Sony rootkit)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q I've heard about the Sony rootkit. What is this, and how do I get rid of it if it is on my computer? A Believe it or not, Sony BMG Music hired programmers to write software that can compromise the security of your computer. Why? Sony was...

Set-top box.(INSIDE AND OUT)
March 1, 2006... There's a lot of hype and wonder surrounding high-definition TVs these days, but often it's the cable or satellite set-top box that's doing the technological heavy lifting. We opened up a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD Multi-Room to...

Ghosts in your machine.(Tech Clinic)(Wi-Fi routers protection)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Q How can I tell if someone is freeloading on my Wi-Fi network? A The easiest way is to log on to the Web-browser interface that most Wi-Fi routers provide. It should list all clients connected to the access point. If there are more clients...

High-tech rancher.(This Is My Job)(Shad Cox)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... NEW MEXICO State University's Corona Range and Livestock Research Center is not your average ranch, An impressive array of remote sensors and systems helps manager Shad Cox monitor his elusive herds and their diets--once a far more laborious ra...