Popular Mechanics articles from May 2006

Popular Mechanics archives from May 2006

Getting our hands dirty.(Editor's Notes)
May 1, 2006... EVERY SO OFTEN, PM gets a group of readers together to talk about the magazine. We want to know what you think is working, what's not, and what kind of stories you'd like to see more of. We never fail to come away impressed by the kind of...

Katrina aftermath.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Finally, a report from the media that looks at the Katrina tragedy in a realistic light ("Now What? The Lessons of Katrina," March 2006). I hope you send a copy to our congressmen, maybe it will motivate them to find a way to prevent another...

Big Brother?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Perhaps Glenn Reynolds lives in an area where people understand that the yellow light means "prepare to stop" ("Big Brother Is Ticketing You," March 2006). Where I live, it means "stomp on the gas." So, bring on the traffic cameras. I am sick...

Manual art form.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Mr. Leno's comments on manuals are dead-on ("Jay Leno's Garage," March 2006). If you read the owner's manual for a Ford pickup from the past 20 years or so, you might conclude that the only thing not expressly forbidden is taking it in for...

Correct Camry.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... We incorrectly printed an image of a 2006 Camry instead of a 2007 ("New Cars," March 2006). Here's the correct model.--Ed.

Brave neutron world.(TECHWATCH)(Spallation Neutron Source )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... This isn't your father's particle accelerator. When it's completed this year, the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) in Oak Ridge, Tenn., will produce neutron pulses at least 10 times as intense as any other accelerator's. But it's...

Tyrannosaurus crest.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... T-rex's family tree can now be traced back 160 million years, thanks to two fossilized skeletons unearthed in western China. The find revealed a carnivore that measured just 10 ft. from nose to tail, far smaller than its descendants, the...

Moneywalks.(studying how epidemics might spread)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... To find out how the next killer flu or other epidemic might spread, researchers in California and Germanyturned to wheresgeorge.com, a Web site that tracks the movement of dollar bills through user-submitted serial numbers. Sorting through over...

Escape plan.(Escape Rescue System)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Developed in response to 9/11, the Escape Rescue System is a proposed solution for evacuating large buildings. It uses collapsible cabins, which stay folded on the roof until needed, to access multiple floors at once, ferrying up to 300 people...

Three spaceports--and counting.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Space Adventures plans to build two spaceports--in Singapore and near Dubai--within three years. Like Virgin Galactic's New Mexico facility, these ports will stage 62-mile-high suborbital flights, using a fleet of five-passenger craft similar...

Quake spotting.(U.S. Geological Survey)(earthquake.usgs.gov)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Did the Earth just move? Ask the U.S. Geological Survey. Its seismic monitoring Web site, earthquake.usgs.gov, now provides around-the-clock updates on every U.S. quake within 2 minutes, and international quakes within a half-hour. Visitors...

Fusion's new bubble bath.(sonofusion)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... New experiments at Purdue University have renewed controversy over "sonofusion." The technique uses ultrasound to collapse tiny bubbles in liquid, generating enough heat to trigger nuclear fusion--according to some scientists. Past tests...

Satellite rescue tug.(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... CX-OLEV ORBITALTUG Main Thrusters Four ion thrusters--two on each deployable arm--provide multidirectional thrust. Control Thrusters 20 nitrogen thrusters in four blocks handle precise adjustments. Fuel Tanks Enough...

Time machine.(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WITH THE XBOX 360 leading the way for rival consoles from Nintendo and Sony, gaming is achieving unprecedented levels of realism. Almost 30 years ago PM covered the latest "TV game" systems, including the now iconic Atari 2600 (pictured). While...

Number theory.(TECHWATCH; Earth's temperature)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Over the past 30 years, the Earth has warmed by 1.08 F, according to NASA, making 2005 THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. That might not sound like much--a standard 1500-watt space heater can easily warm your living room. But artificially warming the...

An end to car chases?(TECHWATCH)(GPS tracking system)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... High-speed police pursuits resulted in 343 deaths in the United States in 2004--a 39 percent increase compared to 1984. This year the LAPD will begin testing an air-powered launcher that fires a GPS tracking tag onto a suspect's car (prototype,...

Watching malaria.(TECHWATCH)(Malaria Monitor wristwatch)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Malaria Monitor wristwatch, designed to jab its wearer four times daily with a tiny needle, isn't exactly an impulse buy. Powered by a small motor, its needle draws blood, which is tested for malaria parasites. If dangerous levels of...

Resident roboticist: should robots that interact with humans look like ... humans?(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A robotic arm on an assembly line doesn't need to worry about its looks. But roboticists who design machines that interact with people are forced to deal with the unhappy legacy of the "Uncanny Valley." Coined in 1970, the term refers to the...

How do they know... The temperature of the sun?(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BY ANALYZING THE COLOR of the visible light emitted by the sun, scientists have determined that its surface is around 10,000 F. The halo surrounding the surface is harder to see and much more dynamic, with solar flares and magnetic loops that...

How to stop a bomb: terrorists have detonated bombs in public trash cans in London and Paris, but never in North America. Now, U.S.-based companies specializing in blast-resistant receptacles are preparing for the worst.(TECHWATCH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Call it fear-mongering or foresight, but the U.S. market for bomb-resistant garbage cans has become increasingly competitive since 9/11. As an alternative to the costly practice of reinforcing trash bins with enough metal to fully contain a...

Technical knockout.(UPGRADE)(Creative Zen Vision: M)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The iPod isn't the only MP3 player in town that also plays video. In fact, if Apple's 30GB iPod and Creative's Zen Vision: M ($299) got into a flght--a fair fight, based solely on technological innovation-the Zen would win by a hair. Of course,...

Six-bit salute.(UPGRADE)(Autoloader Screwdriver )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Lee Valley's pump-action Autoloader Screwdriver ($16.50) makes it easy to switch between six different bits. There are no buttons or levers the user just yanks the clear plastic chamber forward, lines up the right bit and slides the chamber...

Alias Saddle.(UPGRADE)(Body Geometry bike seats)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... There's been a lot of innovation in bicycle saddles in recent years, much of it driven by research into chronic riding-related injuries. Specialized's gender-specific line of Body Geometry bike seats, including the Alias Saddle ($100), is...

Are high-end earbuds worth it?(UPGRADE)(Sony Black Fontopia)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Earbud makers might claim that advanced filters and drivers justify spending $300 or more for an in-ear upgrade, but hearing is believing. After testing the best and worst in earphones, here are the clear winners. ULTIMATE EARS SUPER-FI...

Tale of the tape.(BETTER MOUSETRAP?)(InnoDesk Thermo-Cut Tape Gun)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... InnoDesk's Thermo-Cut Tape Gun ($17.50) is a long overdue update of one of everyday life's most useful--and despised--tools. It sears through tape with the push of a but ton, using a fast-heating wire instead of the typical serrated blade The...

Dual-fuel stove.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Coleman Fyrestorm Ti Stove)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Coleman's Fyrestorm Ti Stove justifies its high price ($190) with a groundbreaking design. The 8-ounce stove accepts both screw on butane/propane gas canisters and liquid-fuel tanks. In a second innovation, the canister mounts upside down,...

Flash forward: USB flash memory drives have proliferated in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Here are some of the more memorable ones we've tested.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Wallet Flash 1.1)(Digital Bible USB Key Chain)(EZVue Vista USB 2.0 Drive)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Wallet Flash 1.1 (128MB to 2GB, $29 to $169) is brilliant--a credit card-size USB 2.0 drive that fits in your wallet. Really, it does-making it far more useful than smaller, constantly missing thumb drives. walletex.com The Digital...

R2 RapidRench.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Crescent's R2 RapidRench ($26) is the first adjustable ratcheting socket wrench with 1/4- to 1/8-in.-capacity jaws that accommodate 38 socket sizes. Its unique shape lets you clamp onto bolts with damaged heads as well as to fasteners without...

Hi-def goes to Hollywood.(UPGRADE: PM TEST DRIVE)(Sony HDR-HC11080i Handycam)(Sanyo Xacti HD1)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2006... The hi-def camcorder market is tiny. In fact, at press time there were only two available for less than $2000: Sony's 1080i-resolution HDR-HCl and Sanyo's smaller and cheaper 720p-resolution Xacti HD1. We asked Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan...

Bass appeal: whether you're an accomplished bassmaster or just someone who likes to win free stuff, Ranger wants to give you a fully loaded fishing boat worth nearly $27,000.(WIN THIS!)
May 1, 2006... Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a man a quality bass boat and he'll call in sick for a lifetime. We picked the 188VS as the best in its class in a recent boating roundup (popularmechanics.com/buyboat) because of its...

Eye in the sea: deep-ocean animals have long evaded scientists' elaborate probes. Now, a tough little camera catches them on video.(SCIENCE: UNDERWATER CAMERA)(Eye-in-the-Sea)
May 1, 2006... Edie Widder paces the deck of the Point Lobos as it plows across California's Monterey Bay. Alongside the 110-ft. research vessel, double-crested cormorants cruise silently above white-capped waves. Widder grabs a rail, steadying herself...

Crossing over.(NEW CARS)(Dodge Caliber)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Dodge has gone to the dark side. The company's bright little Neon is gone, replaced by the serious Caliber, a small, inexpensive crossover with brand-new engines and available awd. It looks nothing like the Neon it replaces. The Caliber is...

Beyond boxes.(VOLVO C70)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Forget what yon thought Volvos looked--and drove--like. The 2006 C70 convertible is a lithe combination of taut body surfaces hiding an eager turbocharged engine and luxurious interior. We enjoyed the full experience while driving Maui's...

Detroit spy report.(NEW CARS)
May 1, 2006... 1. Ford has major but subtle changes planned for its Escape. All sheet-metal below the greenhouse as well as grille and headlights will be new. A horizontal bar splits the grille in the middle, while vertical intake slots fit between the bar...

Family room.(KIA SEDONA)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... We dig minivans. There. It's out in the open. Nothing hauls as many people and as much stuff with as much proficiency and comfort as a minivan. And after spending many hours in all the seats of several all-new Kia Sedonas--cruising around Del...

Glovelike.(HONDA FIT)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Small Hondas have the most responsive steering out there. After driving the new Fit on California's coast and canyon roads, we can say it does not disappoint. Honda's smallest five-passenger car has a willing 109-hp four-cylinder and a choice...

Asia spy report.(NEW CARS)
May 1, 2006... 1. Toyota's all-new Tundra bowed at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. When it comes to dealers months from now, it will offer a choice of three engines, including a 5.7-liter V8 and a six-speed automatic. Towing capacity is set at 10,000 pounds and...

Sweetness.(LEXUS ES 350)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The new Lexus ES 350 doesn't pretend to be a sport sedan. This is a car you buy if you want to be coddled. When dressed in the top-level Ultra Luxury Package, the ES may be the ultimate pampering machine. We spent a day soaking up the Lexus's...

Fast fun.(BMW M5)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... We spent a week exploring the '06 M5's limits--and our bravery--on the twistiest mountain roads in the Santa Monica Mountains. The M5 is poised, its systems highly calibrated; it makes you a better driver the more you push it. The car is so...

A lighter feline.(JAGUAR XK)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The 2007 Jaguar XK's curvaceous aluminum body sits on an ultrastiff, bonded and riveted all-aluminum chassis. By shaving pounds, Jaguar engineers have improved the power-to-weight ratio by nearly 10 percent, making the new car with its...

Europe spy report.(NEW CARS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... 1. Audi's once rad TT loses some of its in-your-face styling and becomes more conventional next fall. We're still hoping to get a shot of the rumored three-door hatchback version of the iconic coupe, but that's a variant that we may well not...

Drophead pretty.(MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Take a sexy, sporty new coupe and remove its roof and--ta-da! You have a sexy, sporty new convertible. Actually, the folks at Mitsubishi are quick to point out that the new Eclipse Spyder is not merely a decapitated Eclipse Coupe. The open-top...

Cosmotologist: a strange, pistonless engine in a strange-looking sports car proves to be an irresistible combination.(JAY LENO'S GARAGE)(Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S)
May 1, 2006... I've always been attracted to engineering oddities. You know, things that get the job done in a different way than most. And I'm especially partial to out-oft-he-ordinary engines. So it just seems natural that sooner or later I'd own a car with...

Your upgrade is ready: evolution has done its best, but there's a limit to how many plug-and-play neural implants, supercharged blood cells, strong-as-steel bone replacements and mind-controlled PCs you can expect from randomly colliding natural forces. Wanna be Superman? Better call the engineers.(REDEFINING THE HUMAN)
May 1, 2006... THE MODERN GUY'S TOOLS--the basic keyboard, scuba tank, cordless drill--are used pretty much like the old mastodon-femur club or flint scraping knife. You take them in hand and apply some muscle. Then you put them away (or misplace them...

How you'll live forever (almost): the Census Bureau says life spans will climb nearly 10 years in the next half-century. We think that's just the beginning.
May 1, 2006... By 2010, U.S. cigarette sales decline to 16.5 billion packs a year, from a peak of 31.5 billion in 1980. Smoking was at its most widespread back in 1960 (above). 2000-2010 Healthier Hearts Heart disease, the biggest killer in America,...

Home delivery: when distinctive design meets factory efficiency, the result is a one-of-a-kind house built at breakneck speed.
May 1, 2006... THE NEW HOUSE at 310 W. Lake Ave. in Auburndale, Fla., has "custom-built" written all over it. It's graced by a standing seam-metal roof, wraparound porch, French doors topped by transom windows, and corbels at the eaves. There's nothing...

How far can you drive on a bushel of corn? Crunching the numbers on alternative fuels.(PM SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF GARNETT, KAN. (POP. 3362), the horizon is broken by what at first sight seems to be a grain elevator rising above the cornfields. But closer inspection reveals a tall, skinny distillation column among the silos and...

How it works: large binocular telescope: the world's most powerful optical telescope will soon to be peering at objects that date back to the dawn of time.(PM SPECIAL REPORT)
May 1, 2006... ESSENTIALLY A PAIR OF ENORMOUS TELESCOPES bolted together, the $120 million Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) combines the light from two mirrors to simulate a telescope with a single larger mirror. The LBT's components were crafted in the United...

The digital detectives: hidden folders, "deleted" files and internet caches hide clues criminals never knew they left behind.
May 1, 2006... THE NIGHT CINDY M. * DISAPPEARED, she ate dinner with her parents and older brother in the family's two-story suburban Pittsburgh home, then went to her room and promised to come back for apple-walnut pie. The pretty 13-year-old with dark blond...

Cut to the quick: we test the 12 fastest--and toughest--string trimmers on the market.(HOME JOURNAL)
May 1, 2006... A lawn isn't finished until it's trimmed. The right machines can transform a shaggy, unattractive mess into a crisp summer landscape. And as any suburbanite who has had a peaceful barbecue interrupted by the whine of a small engine can tell...

Soffit rot.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The soffits on the addition to our house rot out after only a few years. The soffits themselves are not vented, but there is a large gable vent. There are identical gable vents on the main part of the house. The soffits on that portion of the...

Using MSDS sheets.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I found PM's recent tip on using foam sealants to fix a loose shower head very interesting. I use Dow Great Stuff a lot, and I really like the product. How do I find an MSDS for it? ERIC HARPER Clovis, CA An MSDS, or Material...

Reader feedback: recent issues of the Homeowners Clinic generated a variety of helpful responses from readers. Here are a couple.(Homeowners Clinic)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Several do-it-yourselfers read our recent piece on fastener extraction and wrote to say, "Hey, what about Spin-It-Out bits?" Good point. These useful bits are made by Eazypower (eazypower.com). They have a 1/4-in.hex shank that fits nicely into...

Branch office: dent repair.(Homeowners Clinic)(roof repair)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A branch fell onto my shed and put a big dent in the roof. How can I repair the roof without ripping off all its shingles? MICHAEL PAGE Atlanta, GA Whether you strip all the shingles off the roof depends on their general...

Air-conditioning startup.(TRADESMAN TIP)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Sometime in June we get our first desperate phone call from a homeowner: "Hi. I've turned on my central air conditioner for the first time this season, and it isn't working. How soon can you get here?" I can only reply: "Not as soon as I would...

Ceiling not so great.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(ceiling fan)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... My home has a family room with a vaulted ceiling that runs to the ridgeline of the house. The room looks great, but it's hard to keep it heated and cooled to the same temperature as the rest of the house. What can I do? WILLIAM WATSON ...

An open and shut case.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(garage door opener)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Can I adjust my Allister garage door opener? The door gets close to the floor, then goes back up. HOYE GRAVES Sulphur, LA The problem may be due to a pinched door track, an improperly adjusted remote control or a malfunctioning...

Teardrop trailer.(READER PROJECT)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I saw a lot of customized trailers at a car show last year, and thought, "I could make one of those." Scott Calahan, my faculty adviser at Central Washington University, agreed to let me build it as my senior project. It incorporates everything...

Repairing electrical wiring.(SATURDAY MECHANIC)(automobiles)
May 1, 2006... DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY EASY It starts as a smell, The unmistakable odor of burning insulation.-Shortly thereafter a wisp of smoke curls out from under the dash. Then comes the similarly unmistakable pop of a fuse blowing. At which point your...

Lord of the rings.(Auto Clinic)(wheel centering)
May 1, 2006... My son just bought a used car with aftermarket rims. I'm concerned that the centering ring on the hubs is smaller than the corresponding bore on the wheels. This means the wheels may not center correctly, right? Is this safe? WILLIAM...

Twist and shout.(Auto Clinic)(crescent wrench)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... You published a letter in the January 2006 issue from an individual who needed to remove an improperly installed rearview mirror tab from his windshield, After spending a week with exactly the same difficulty, I asked the local repair shop,...

OTC Stinger easy roller.(YOU NEED THIS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... We just got a set of these to use around the PM shop and studio, and they're the most amazing shop tools we've acquired in years. Just position them around the tires, and pump the hydraulic pedal a dozen times or so. Your vehicle, up to 6000...

High voltage.(Auto Clinic)(8-volt batteries)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Owners of old tractors and antique cars sometimes put 8-volt batteries in their 6-volt systems to give their starters a little extra juice to spin the old motors faster for easier starting. Is there any harm in this7 What does it do to...

Eat carrots and squint.(Auto Clinic)(Dodge Intrepid headlights)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I have a 1995 Dodge Intrepid. The headlights are really, really bad, especially when it's raining at night. How can I fix this? MARIE CHALSTROM Via E-Mail PM had an Intrepid in for a long-term test around 1995--and I recall...

How to aim headlights: popularmechanics.com/aimheadlights.(ON THE WEB)
May 1, 2006... GOT A HIGH-MILEAGE CAR? We're looking for readers who have managed to maintain their vehicles so well that they don't ever seem to wear out. Forever is a long time, but if your favorite ride has rolled the odometer over more than a couple...

Drive safe.(Tech Clinic)(laptops programmed to protect your hard drive in falls)
May 1, 2006... Some laptops have hard drives that manufacturers claim can sense when they are falling and take measures to protect themselves. How does this technology work? Is it effective? One of the most fragile parts of any laptop is the hard drive....

Over-the-air video rentals.(A CLOSER LOOK)(MovieBeam)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... * What's the big idea? This past February, MovieBeam became the first company to offer high-definition video rentals by using an ingenious new system that taps into unused bandwidth from the Public Broadcasting System. MovieBeam's set-top box...

The bus stop.(Tech Clinic)(USB removal)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... My computer always yells at me when I pull my USB devices out without ejecting them first. Am I really doing any damage to my computer or peripheral? There is a reason the system barks at you when you yank out the USB plug on devices such...

Turn off before takeoff.(Tech Clinic)(portable electronic devices and air safety)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... I understand that my cellphone might interfere with airplane guidance systems, but why do I have to turn off all of my electronics when the plane is taking off? There is no definitive evidence that portable electronic devices--known in the...

Install a graphics card.(KNOW-HOW)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... To smooth out video playback, play high-resolution games or get the most out of Microsoft's upcoming Vista OS, your computer is going to need a little help in the video-processing department. Here's how to give it a leg up. 1 CHECK INSIDE...

Panel discussion.(Tech Clinic)(flat panel monitors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Is there enough of an advantage to a digital flat-panel monitor versus a VGA flat-panel to justify spending more money? LCD flat-panel displays are inherently digital, in contrast to CRTs, which are analog. That means that in a fiat-panel...

Test pilot.(This Is My Job)(Len Fox)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WILL SHE FLY? It's the question that haunts every airplane designer and builder. When it's time to make the first flight of a new competition aerobatic plane, or an experimental two-seat sport jet, or a homebuilt biplane fresh out of somebody's...