Popular Mechanics articles from May 2009

Popular Mechanics archives from May 2009

Seeing and believing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed Phil Patton's "Something in the Sky" about UFO sightings and the possible explanations behind them, such as military craft and natural lights. It was refreshing to read your...

More tape abuse.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... Although your multiuse tape "Abusive Lab Test" was informative, it left out one important criterion: temperature. One cold day when I was sledding and needed duct tape for an emergency, I found it completely useless. It may be a great "warm...

Policy reform.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... As a New Orleans resident and avid visitor of Dauphin Island, I was disappointed by "America's To-Do List" and the comments about reforming flood policies. There is nothing "luxury" about Dauphin Island--the only place for groceries is a gas...

Correction.(LETTERS)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2009... "Something in the Sky" (March 2009) misidentified military refueling flight paths. The lines represent air-traffic-control boundaries.

Shed nation.(Online Features)(popularmechanics.com/shednation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Once the ground thaws and tulip buds make their first appearance, thoughts turn to the garden--and all eyes turn to the backyard shed. PM has dozens of shed designs, illustrated plans, galleries of the best sheds in America and the experts'...

3D at home.(Online Features)(popularmechanics.com/digitalhollywood)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A 50-year-old technology makes a resurgence in the home, at the theater and even in National Labs. PM explores the latest new tech behind the emerging 3D trend. popularmechanics.com/digitalhollywood

Hardware show.(Online Features)(2009 International Hardware Show)(popularmechanics.com/home_journal)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PM heads out to Las Vegas on May 5 to find the best and most innovative tools at the 2009 International Hardware Show. We'll have hands-on reviews and the winners of the Editor's Choice Awards....

Kepler's eye: is Earth unique? A new spaceship is seeking planets like ours to find out.(TECH WATCH: NEWS + TRENDS + BREAKTHROUGHS)(NASA's Kepler space telescope)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Scientists have found more than 300 giant planets circling other stars, but finding small and dim Earth-like worlds that could harbor life has been beyond our technology. NASA's Kepler space telescope, scheduled...

Shocking way to generate vehicle power.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(hydraulic shock absorber )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] + A team of MIT undergraduates has developed a hydraulic shock absorber that generates power. The system forces fluid through a turbine to create electricity. Tests suggest that each shock in a heavy truck could...

Pod people of England.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(Personal Rapid Transit )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Personal Rapid Transit uses small, electric-powered pods to take passengers to specific destinations, with no stops. After years of testing, the idea will finally go live when the ULTra PRT system (above) begins...

Studying beating heart cells becomes less of a stretch.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... + Cardiac muscle cells expand and contract with each heartbeat, and this "stretchiness" makes them difficult to study under realistic conditions in labs. Engineers at Purdue and Stanford universities have developed an elastic electrode by...

Mach 3-plus or bust.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(Rolls-Royce supersonic turbine engine )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... + Rolls-Royce has started tests of a supersonic turbine engine designed for cruising at speeds above Mach 3. The first of the YJ102R engine's expected uses is in a next-generation cruise missile built by Lockheed Martin. Other possible...

Moon rock solves mystery.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(lunar magnetic fields)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] + Researchers are analyzing a tiny rock that Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt (above) scooped from the moon 36 years ago for clues about the moon's magnetic past. Researchers at MIT determined that the faint...

Dinosaur snake hints at past climate.(Reports From the Edge of Science)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... + An international team of scientists has uncovered the fossil of a 60-million-year-old snake that weighed 2500 pounds and was more than 40 feet long. Aside from the creep factor, this is significant because the maximum size of cold-blooded...

PM interview Icequake detective Meredith Nettles; a scientist tracks Greenland's collapsing glaciers as they rattle seismographs.(TECH WATCH)(Interview)
May 1, 2009... She is a geophysicist with an eye for unusual earthquakes. In 2003, Meredith Nettles and several colleagues noticed an epidemic of bizarre earthquakes emanating from a geologically unlikely spot: the coasts of Greenland. The team found that the...

Big projects, big waste.(TECH WATCH)(government spending waste)
May 1, 2009... THE PENTAGON AND NASA SELDOM SEE A BUDGET THEY CAN'T BUST--THEIR AVERAGE COST OVERRUN IS NOW 26 PERCENT AND IS GETTING WORSE. BUT THE SYSTEM CAN BE FIXED, SAYS CONSULTING FIRM DELOITTE AEROSPACE & DEFENSE, IF CONTRACTORS, POLITICIANS AND...

One shot, one kill, zero pilot: a new unmanned helicopter brings finesse to airstrikes.(TECH WATCH)(Vigilante 502 Unmanned Helicopter)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In modern warfare, the advantage often goes to guerrillas who can attack, then quickly hide among the population or disappear into the hills. To counter those tactics, the Pentagon since 2001 has been arming unmanned...

Dive recorder.(Upgrade: GEAR + TOOLS + TOYS)(Canon PowerShot D10)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Canon is known as a cautious company, typically eschewing glitzy features and instead focusing on basics such as improving image sensors and lens glass. And while waterproof and ruggedized cameras have been around...

Future watch: ultrawide TVs.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Philips Cinema 21:9 )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Next to a boxy tube, all HDTVs are widescreen. But use a plasma to watch a movie in its original format and often you still have to deal with pesky black letterboxing bars on the top and bottom of the screen. The reason: Movie theaters...

Goodbye gas.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Vectrix VX 1 Scooter )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The Vectrix VX 1 Scoote ($10,495) isn't the first all-electric two-wheel vehicle, but it is the first that's highway-legal--it has a top speed of about 62 mph, accelerates from 0 to 50 in under 7 seconds, and has a range of up to 55 miles per...

High-tech beam.(UPGRADE: wish list)(LED Energizer Hard Case Tactical 2AA Second Generation Handheld Light)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 70-lumen LED Energizer Hard Case Tactical 2AA Second Generation Handheld Light (price not set) is waterproof and can survive 15-foot falls. It has an infrared light for night-vision gadgets, as well as tiny red,...

Abusive lab test.(UPGRADE: wish list)(pruners)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... Bypass hand pruners, designed to cut branches less than I inch wide, often snip more than stems. They slice rope, twine and even chicken wire--or at least, the ones in our test did. Unfair?. Maybe-but the results were revealing. And, yes,...

Take two.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Nintendo DSi)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On the outside, the differences between the new Nintendo DSi($70) game system and the older Nintendo DS are slight--a few rearranged buttons and a built-in camera for taking goofy pictures. The real reason to...

Test drive: rooftop cargo carrier.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Yakima SkyBox LoPro Titanium )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Once you've filled your car's interior with road-trip gear, there's nowhere to go but up. And most rooftop cargo carriers go way up--often adding 14 to 18 inches of drag-inducing height to a vehicle. I recently packed the 15-cubic-foot Yakima...

Wrist-top widescreen.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Timex Expedition WS4 Watch)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In order to see all that a full-featured sports watch has to offer, users typically need to scroll through various modes. The Timex Expedition WS4 Watch ($200)has an enormous widescreen face that allows it to display...

Reader refresh.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Amazon Kindle 2)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... The Amazon Kindle wasn't the first e-book reader--electronic books have been around in one form or another since the 1990s--but it was the product that brought the category into the mainstream. Despite an awkward design, the Kindle's integrated...

FlatWire HDMI Cable.(UPGRADE: wish list)(high-definition multimedia interface)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The standard way to hide home theater wires: Charge up a drill and start punching holes in the drywall. The FlatWire HDMI Cable (price not set) offers an alternative. It is basically a steamrolled HDMI cable--it...

Svelter shelter.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 Tent)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Typical three-season, four-person car-camping tents weigh 10 to 20 pounds--too heavy to double as backcountry shelters. The Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 Tent ($450) is spacious enough for road warriors (it has 57.5 square feet of surface space...

Remote control.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Dish Network ViP 922 SlingLooded HD DuoDVR)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... For years, Slingbox set-top box users have been able to watch and control all their home TV channels from Web-enabled computers and phones. But until now, this place-shifting magic has required a separate box. Not anymore--satellite TV provider...

A more noble gas.(UPGRADE: wish list)(Craftsman Propane Weedwacker)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Propane is cleaner-burning than gasoline and is better able to endure an idle winter in the shed. But until now, it has been absent from handheld yard tools--a shame, considering two-stroke gas-guzzlers are notorious polluters. The reason: It's...

Quick silver.(New Cars: SPORTS COUPE + MOTORCYCLE + SUPERCAR + HYBRID)(Pontiac's Solstice GXP Coupe )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Pontiac's $30,995 Solstice GXP Coupe is a bit like a bush league version of the Corvette. It's powerful, it's downright gorgeous from any angle, and it corners flat. But refined? Not so much. Unlike the Corvette, the smaller GXP Coupe struggles...

Future cruiser.(NEW CARS: test drives)(2009 Honda DN-01 )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2009 Honda DN-01 The 595-pound DN-01 is a two-wheeled crossover of sorts--part cruiser, part scooter. At the heart of this bike is a 680-cc V-twin paired to a unique automatic transmission that shares elements...

Top gun.(NEW CARS: test drives)(2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro The R8 didn't need much to join the top-tier supercar ranks. The road rocket nearly had it all--a lightweight aluminum structure and body, midengine layout, all-wheel drive and a...

Gas vs. diesel.(NEW CARS: test drives)(2010 Volvo XC60)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2010 Volvo XC60 Recently we got a taste could be Volvo's future. The automaker tossed us the keys to a pair c XC60s--a U.S.-spec 281-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder T6, and a 182-hp 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel...

Benchmarked.(NEW CARS: test drives)(2010 Toyota Prius)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2010 Toyota Prius The hybrid by which all others are measured has officially raised the bar. The $24,000 (est.) third-generation Prius not only saves more fuel than the old one, but it also rolls with Lexus-like...

Tested: Prius vs. Insight.(NEW CARS: test drives)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... On our comparison test drive, we found the Prius to have an extra layer of finesse. The engine is quieter--and quicker. The $19,500 (est.) Honda is cheaper than the Prius and runs a simpler hybrid system that limits electric-only operation. For...

Unlikely rivals: the Hyundai Genesis Coupe looks like an Infiniti knockoff, but does its performance back up the slick design?(NEW CARS: head-to-head: test drives)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] the SPECS These two cars are stunningly similar when the technicals are examined. Dimensionally they're close, but the Hyundai, at 3480 pounds, is about 300 pounds lighter than the Infiniti. Under the hood, the...

Battle of the boxes: the arrival of Nissan's Cube means the boxy car class has expanded from one to three this year. Here's how the Cube stacks up.(NEW CARS: head-to-head: test drives)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In terms of pure funk, none of the other boxes on this page can beat the Cube. The design is very simple, very Japanese and very hip. Underneath the skin is Nissan's Versa chassis, and its 122-hp 1.8-liter...

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.(NEW CARS: first look)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The new E-Class is mechanically similar to the current car. So there's a 268-hp V6 and 382-hp V8 as well as all-wheel drive and the hot-blooded E63 AMG version. But Mercedes will debut new tech in the E-Class, like Attention Assist, which...

2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3.(NEW CARS: first look)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The current Mazdaspeed3 is by many measures the sport-compact gold standard. The 2010 model will remain turbocharged and produce around 263 hp. Though some rivals send power to all four wheels, this hot sedan will...

2010 Porsche Panamera GT.(NEW CARS: first look)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The first Porsche four-door sports sedan will arrive later this year with a choice of two 4.8-liter V8s--a 400-hp model and a 500-hp Turbo. Both will use Porsche's amazing new PDK gearbox, and all-wheel drive will be an option. A V6 hybrid...

2010 Ford Taurus SHO.(NEW CARS: first look)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The Super High Output (SHO) Taurus returns after a decade-long absence, with all-wheel drive and a new twin-turbo V6 packing 365 hp. An optional Track Pack with 20-inch wheels should add handling poise. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2010 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 HD.(NEW CARS: first look)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Dodge has brought the new Ram 1500's aggressive design to the beefy 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks. But don't think Dodge just lifted the look verbatim. Nope. The bigger trucks get their own hood, grille and bumpers. The standard 5.7-liter...

VW Jetta TDI loyal edition.(Long-Term Test Cars: THE DEFT MITSUBISHI EVO DEPARTS AS A DIESEL VW ARRIVES--LET THE HYPERMILING BEGIN)(Volkswagen)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FIRST REPORT Fuel-efficient transportation doesn't necessarily have to mean boredom behind the wheel Hybrids may grab the headlines, but we're smitten with clean diesel. This alt fuel has reinvented itself...

Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited.(Long-Term Test Cars: THE DEFT MITSUBISHI EVO DEPARTS AS A DIESEL VW ARRIVES--LET THE HYPERMILING BEGIN)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SECOND REPORT We've used the Forester mostly for urban commuting and grocery-getting, but it did make one major road trip, racking up more than 2000 miles in four days to visit family back in Michigan. The Subie...

Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV.(Long-Term Test Cars: THE DEFT MITSUBISHI EVO DEPARTS AS A DIESEL VW ARRIVES--LET THE HYPERMILING BEGIN)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THIRD REPORT We almost wish there was more to complain about with our Maxima. Ho-hum design, perhaps? Nope. The Maxima looks razor-sharp. Performance? Well, it's designed more for comfort than for hitting apexes,...

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR.(Long-Term Test Cars: THE DEFT MITSUBISHI EVO DEPARTS AS A DIESEL VW ARRIVES--LET THE HYPERMILING BEGIN)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There is a toggle switch behind the shifter that allows you to select between Normal and Sport transmission settings. But if you're feeling particularly feisty--and you've got miles of clear asphalt ahead--hold that...

Future collectibles: it's been 10 years since Jay Leno's garage first appeared in our pages. But this month, instead of looking back, Jay celebrates his first decade with PM by looking forward--at which cars today have the potential to be collectible in the future.(JAY LENO'S GARAGE 10TH ANNIVERSARY)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stocks and bonds? I don't know much about them. In fact, I don't know anything about stocks and bonds. I've lose money in the stock market; come to think of it, I've lost money in real estate too. But I've never lost...

Frozen skiff.(MYTHBUSTERS WORKSHOP)(ice boat)
May 1, 2009... INVENTOR GEOFFREY PYKE ONCE PROPOSED BUILDING SHIPS OUT OF ICE. MYTHBUSTERS JAMIE HYNEMAN AND ADAM SAVAGE SEE IF IT CAN BE DONE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A lot of mythology surrounds British inventor Geoffrey Pyke. He supposedly made...

50 tools we can't live without; if PM could design the perfect toolkit, these are the DIY essentials we'd put in it. Now, all we need is a really big box.(Cover story)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Man is "weak in himself, and of small stature," wrote 19th-century essayist Thomas Carlyle. Yet, with tools, "the granite mountain melts into light dust before him, seas are his smooth highway, winds and fire his...

Paranoid by design: form follows function at America's new infectious disease research laboratory, where scientists will study the secrets of the world's deadliest pathogens.
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH FACILITY at Fort Detrick, Md., doesn't look menacing. The three-story glass-and-brick structure, which could fit seamlessly into any suburban office park, is typical of buildings designed by...

Ten careers for right now.(Occupation overview)
May 1, 2009... Want a job? Investment banks aren't hiring right now, but if you're interested in the new wave of energy exploration (underwater or on wind-swept ridges), in digital tech (like game design and 3D sportscasts) or even in building...

The mission: in the 1950s, Nate Saint, adventure pilot and protestant missionary, barnstormed the Amazon. Now, his son plans to transform jungle aviation and save lives--with help from a flying car and a prayer.
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "GATHER AROUND, EVERYONE," Steve Saint says. "Let's say a prayer about these flights." Saint, a thin, gray-bearded 58-year-old, is wearing khakis and a salmon-colored shirt and holding a...

Building a backyard oasis: how to plan and post a perfect pergola.(DIY Home: MAILBOX POST + BRASS REHAB + FLUSHER FIX)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I love building pergolas. To me, they're a perfect blend of big honkin' timbers, some pretty neat carpentry and a little landscaping thrown in for good measure. The simple combination of posts and open rafters is...

Staying cool: knowing the facts about central air conditioning can help you keep heat and humidity where they belong: outside.(How Your House Works)
May 1, 2009... Like so many powerful innovations, central air conditioning is easy to take for granted. The cool, dry air that whispers unceasingly from wall and ceiling registers can lull us into a false sense of security. Then an electric bill arrives, or...

The refrigeration cycle.(HOW YOUR HOUSE WORKS: AIR CONDITIONING)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanical, chemical and thermal energy act together in your central air-conditioning system to cool and dehumidify indoor air Here's how. 1. Warm liquid refrigerant is driven under high pressure toward the...

Mail call.(Homeowners Clinic: Q+A)(maiboxes)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q My mailbox and post have taken a beating, and I'm ready to replace them. What do I need to know before I start? A Replacing a mailbox aria post is a straightforward DIY project, and it contributes to a house's...

Refinishing brass.(Homeowners Clinic: Q+A)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... I want to polish and refinish the brass hardware on my front door. What's the best way to do this so it stays shiny as long as possible? People are becoming accustomed to seeing extremely glossy lighting, door and plumbing hardware. A lot...

Getting a handle on water savings.(Homeowners Clinic: Q+A)(toilet tanks)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Our toilet tank's handle sticks in the down position. Is this an easy fix? Yes. Lift the tank lid, press the handle, and watch the lever and chain that lift the flapper valve. It may be that the lever rubs on the tank wall or the chain is...

Railing height.(Homeowners Clinic: Q+A)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... I'm building a deck. What height should I make the handrailing? The International Residential Code, a building code that most states use, says deck handrails should be no less than 36 inches high (34 inches on stairs). That sounds simple,...

Chasing voltage drops: diagnose electrical problems by chasing voltage drops, instead of the old-fashioned way--checking continuity.(DIY Auto: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS + TIMING BELT + SOFT-TOP ZIPPER)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The road ahead looks like a black hole. It's so dark and so dreary., even the bravest Saturday mechanic would prefer to be off the highway and safe at home. Unfortunately, you're still hours away from your...

Bustin' at the seams.(Car Clinic: Q+A)(windshields)
May 1, 2009... Q The plastic windshield-washer-fluid reservoir in my RV has a 2-inch-long crack in it. I suspect this happened last winter when the year-old water in it froze solid. The RV dealer near me has gone out of business, so I can't even order another...

My head's spinning.(Car Clinic: Q+A)(automotive brakes)
May 1, 2009... I'm sure you know a lot about cars mechanically, but as far as your driving knowledge goes, I'm worried. You wrote in the January issue that locking up the rear wheels would cause a spin. Wrong, Mike: Braking the front wheels too much causes a...

Suspenders and belt.(Car Clinic: Q+A)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... My Hyundai dealer tells me that to keep my engine's warranty I must have the timing belt replaced at 60,000 miles. This is not a minor repair and is quite expensive. Do American car manufacturers, with newer engines, require timing-belt...

Zipless.(Car Clinic: Q+A)(plastic zippers )(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... How do I "grease" the plastic zippers on the windows of my Jeep Wrangler's soft-top? I'd use silicone spray or Armor All. Apply it sparingly to avoid leaving a residue on the surrounding upholstery that can attract dirt and dust. If you...

Ditch cable, save cash: with the right combination of antenna and internet sources, you can get the shows and movies you like without the expense.(DIY Tech: ANALOG BACKUP + LCD RIPPLES)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Times are tough, money is tight, and Americans are starting to take a long, hard look at their monthly bills. One expense, in particular, stands out: cable. It's hard to cut back on most utilities--a modern home...

Your digital transition.(Digital Clinic: Q+A)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q I have a lot of old analog music and movies that I want to preserve. What's the best way to transfer them to digital? A Entropy conquers all analog media, forcing records and video to slowly crumble, warp and...

Ripple effect.(Digital Clinic: Q+A)(LCD monitors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... When I touch my LCD monitor, it causes a rippling distortion in the image. Can this damage my screen? Not likely. This ripple effect is usually little more than an optical illusion. LCD panels contain a layer of light-polarizing film....

This is my job: engine researcher.(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STANI BOHAC ANN ARBOR, MICH. AGE: 38 YEARS ON JOB: 6 If future cars still use internal-combustion engines, we'll have researchers like Stani Bohac to thank. The mechanical engineer works the labs...