Popular Mechanics articles from November 2003

Popular Mechanics archives from November 2003

Staff plays softball. Tens cheer.(Editor's Notes)
November 1, 2003... Putting out a magazine is a demanding task. A magazine never sleeps. It doesn't care whether there's a holiday or you're out sick or you didn't have time to do something. It only cares that there is a completely new one every 30 days, without...

Beyond superpower.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I proudly served five years in the U.S. Army and I'm glad that our armed forces are so dominant. But I also recognize, as President Eisenhower warned over 40 years ago, that the military-industrial complex has distorted our economy, our...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... The Luxaura Light Guide from Bridgestone Industrial Products America was incorrectly referenced as "neon lights" in your description of the Scion (Sept. 2003, page 66). This error is understandable since Luxaura Light Guide looks like neon--but...

Reader project of the month.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I built my first hydroplane from PM plans published in 1956 or 57, and used it for 30 years. Later, I built this "minimax" racer, based on the same plans. My modifications include an enclosed cockpit with integral front cowling and remote...

Track star: 100 years ago: November 1903.(Time Machine)
November 1, 2003... Germany amazed the world when its Marienfelde-Zossen electric line set the fastest speed ever attained on rails--130 miles per hour. PM called it "one of the most remarkable feats in history." The 13,000-volt current, transformed down to 600...

Styles per hour: 25 years ago: November 1978.(Time Machine)
November 1, 2003... Back in the 1920s and '30s, classic coachbuilders such as LeBaron and Brewster built custom auto bodies for wealthy patrons. In 1978, coachbuilders were cloning the classics of the '20s through the '60s. This comprehensive roundup included...

Animal farm: 50 years ago: November 1953.(Time Machine)
November 1, 2003... PM's Clifford Hicks saw a chicken solve arithmetic problems and a rooster knock out a tune on a piano. The editor played a game of pinball against a turkey--and lost. Hicks was visiting an Arkansas farm that served as a research lab for a pair...

Life of the party: 75 years ago: November 1928.(Time Machine)
November 1, 2003... While the November 1928 issue carried numerous ads on how to be popular by playing the banjo, none could compare to the 4-page article on thimble tricks. Here were secrets to making a pair of thimbles smoke, showing "how to swallow a thimble...

Precision-guided cargo.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The technology behind precision-guided bombs will make it safer to bring food and ammunition to troops in hostile terrain. Currently, airdrops are done using round parachutes, which have a critical limitation: If the cargo plane flies high...

Crocodile comeback.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If your vacation plans include a trip to the Everglades, keep an eye out for crocodiles. Not alligators, but the rare Florida variety of crocodiles like the one shown above. That's good news because in the 1970s their numbers had dropped to...

German army regroups.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Germany is planning to reorganize its army, say U.S. military observers. Since World War II, the German army has been structured and equipped to provide homeland defense and disaster assistance. "German Army 2020," an internal planning document...

Computer bugs make colorful art.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... There are some computer bugs that even the best antivirus software will never kill. Roberto Dabdoub, a retired genetics scientist, found microorganisms lurking inside his computer, cellphone, and growing in scratches on CDs. Older devices are...

Heavy-lift hand truck.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Lifting heavy loads in tight places is now as easy as putting your foot down. George Sharpton, of Ellenwood, Ga., has developed a combination hand truck and forklift. Retracted, his device maneuvers in tight spaces like a hand truck. To...

Ultra-accurate gravity map.(Technology Watch)(orbiting Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Looking from the window of a trans-Atlantic jet, the ocean seems flat. This is an illusion. The surface is covered with hills and valleys created by currents, winds, tides and the Earth's gravitational field. Until recently, an accurate...

Robot attack helicopter.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Encouraged by the combat performance of unmanned vehicles during Gulf War II, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has launched an all-out effort to develop an unmanned combat-armed rotorcraft (UCAR) that can effectively strike at...

Duplicate better than the original.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Aviation enthusiasts honor Sir George Cayley for laying the scientific groundwork that got the Wright brothers off the ground. Cayley's own attempt to fly, however, ended when his glider crashed and the servant pressed into duty as a pilot quit...

Swimsuit maker takes a flying lesson.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... An idea that makes airplanes fly faster has inspired an improved swimsuit--Adidas's slippery full-body JETCONCEPT. "There are many forms of drag that a swimmer experiences while in the water," says a company spokesman. Aircraft designers...

Alcohol monitor keeps drunk drivers off the road.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A small skin patch being developed by SpectRX, Boston University School of Public Health and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles could keep drunk drivers off the road. The patch, about the size of a penny, would go over laser-drilled holes in...

Quiet supersonic aircraft.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... For decades, scientists believed it should be possible to design a wing that would minimize the sonic boom created by a supersonic aircraft. On Aug.27 on the same test range where Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier 56 years ago, NASA...

Planet watch.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * INDONESIA Hot ash from Mount Lewotobi, a 5620-ft. volcano on Flores Island, showered six villages as far as 5 miles away on Sept 1. There were no deaths or injuries, but local officials report heavy damage to the rice, corn and coffee crops...

Visualizing a gusher.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Wildcatters who blindly drilled wells in the hope of striking liquid gold would be dazzled by the newest tool of the trade. Schlumberger Oilfield Services of Houston has created virtual-reality centers where geologists prospect for oil by...

The miracle of hybrid technology: Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system combines the best of electric and internal-combustion technology.(Special Advertising Section)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... One Of The Most Advanced Cars Toyota's hybrid-drive 2004 Prius is one of the most advanced cars you can buy. Someday, this is how all cars will be built. But the Prius is here today! It combines exceptional fuel economy with near-zero...

Inside the new 2004 Toyota Prius: Toyota's newest family car can do things no other vehicle on the road can do.(Special Advertising Section)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... It's Not Just The Engine The Prius is more than just a fuel-sipping powertrain. This is a real car, engineered in every detail to be comfortable, convenient and efficient for the people who will ride in it. Start with the body. The Prius'...

Toyota's 'miracle car' on the road: the Prius is a marvel of technology. But how does it perform on the road?(Special Advertising Section)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Palm Springs Scenic Loop Let's see how the 2004 Toyota Prius handles on the road with a hearty test drive. Come on along. Our favorite test drive climbs out of Palm Desert, Calif., on scenic Route 74, the Palms to Pines Highway, and...

Protein kills bacteria.(Technology Watch)(RraA protein)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A newly isolated protein may help solve the growing problem of treating infections that are resistant to antibiotics. The protein, named RraA, interferes with a bacterial cell's natural process of building up and breaking down RNA. This has the...

Brain inspires computer art.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Researchers at Georgia Tech have created a computer system that uses the neural impulses of rat brain cells to draw pictures. The living neurons reside in a petri dish in Atlanta (top) and are connected to color marker pens (above). Knowledge...

Unraveling string theory.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... What has been described as one of the most lavishly created science television programs ever produced aims to explain one of the most complex ideas in modern science: the superstring theory. The theory proposes that everything consists of...

Smallest paint factory.(Technology Watch)(in-store paint factory)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A hardware store without paint cans may seem like a contradiction in terms, but MicroBlend Technologies sees it as inevitable. The Alhambra, Calif., company has developed an in-store paint factory, shown here, that occupies less than 400...

Luxury cruises to Antarctica.(Technology Watch)(Travel Dynamics International's Orion )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... We can't help but wonder what Adm. Robert Perry would have thought of Orion, the world's most luxurious icebreaker. Measuring 337 ft. from stem to stern, the 6-deck ship has an E3 ice classification, which means it can ply packed-ice locales...

Tiny nukes advance.(Following Up ...)(low-yield nuclear weapons)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Plans to build a new class of low-yield nuclear weapons, like the bunker buster described in our October 2002 cover story, are being fast-tracked by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE). In August, 150 weapons hers...

Extreme magnet breaks 20-tesla barrier.(Following Up ...)(superconducting magnet )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The world's most powerful magnet, the subject of our March 2003 Extreme Machines column, has earned itself a new spot in the record books. On Aug. 23, scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Fla.,...

Add it on.(Peripherals)(Microsoft's new Wireless Optical Desktop Elite)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Every year Microsoft comes out with a new set of keyboards and mouse devices to attach to your computer, and each year they get better and more complicated than the last. Microsoft's new Wireless Optical Desktop Elite system is cool, complete...

Robots clean house.(Robotics)(iRobot's products)
November 1, 2003... Robotics has long been the property of science fiction. From Rosie in "The Jetsons" to HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey," robots represent a world where machines can think and act much like humans. Yes, modern technology has had a few of its own...

World's largest digital camera.(Photography)(QUEST camera at Palomar Observatory)
November 1, 2003... The ancients called them "wanderers." We know them as planets, and, according to the textbooks, Pluto is the most distant of the nine orbiting the star we call the sun. Or is it? Last year, a team working at California's Palomar Observatory...

Blackout: the conspiracy theory.(Security)
November 1, 2003... There are two explanations for the massive Aug. 14 power failure. The official version, which the Department of Energy is scheduled to release about the time you open this issue of POPULAR MECHANICS, is expected to retell the story that we have...

Rhino 660: a new breed.(Off-Roading)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Yamaha engineers have taken the guts from their Grizzly 660 4x4 ATV and added Jeep-like bodywork with side-by-side bucket seats for two adults. The result looks like a cross between the Kawasaki Mule that professional gardeners use and some...

Knute Rockne.(PM People)
November 1, 2003... What does it take to be a football star? The most important requirements are "brains, courage, self-restraint, co-ordination, fire of nervous energy and an unselfish point of view." Says who? None other than the legendary football coach Knute...

BFGoodrich[R] Tires take control[TM] presents: the musclecar lives on!(Special Advertising Section)(1968 Mustang Fastback restoration)
November 1, 2003... RETROMOBILE Our concept is simple; take a classic from the Musclecar Era and bring the performance up to modern levels. From a Carolina dealer, we bought a rust-free 1968 Mustang Fastback with a tired amateur restoration. It was ripe to be...

2004 Acura TL.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Acura has pumped a shot of adrenaline into its sedan line-up. Earlier in the year we got the spunky 200-hp TSX. And now we have the aggressively styled second-generation TL. The all-new TL sprouts from the same platform as the recently redone...

2004 Mitsubishi Galant.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Unfortunately for Mitsubishi, the Galant has not been at the top of most midsize-car shoppers' must-see list. But that may well change thanks to the all-new 2004 Galant. Mitsubishi now offers a completely restyled vehicle that's taller and...

2004 Honda S 2000.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Originally introduced in 2000, the S 2000 is being revamped for the '04 model year with a number of minor mechanical improvements and several interior and exterior styling changes. The interior changes include improved shoulder room and...

2004 Buell XB12R and XB12S.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Renegade Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell, having sold his fledgling company back to H-D, continues to use the motorcycle giant's engineering resources to build bikes unlike any others. This year's two new bikes, the striking Firebolt XB12R...

2004 Porsche C45 Turbo Cabriolet.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... After a 14-year hiatus, one of the most desirable of Porsche models, the Turbo Cabriolet, is back. The 415-hp topless twin-turbo combines the power and technology of the present Turbo with the structural enhancements of the recently introduced...

2004 Aprilia RSV Touno Racing.(New Cars)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... If you want superbike performance, but you don't feel like riding prone all day, consider the new RSV Touno Racing. This is essentially the company's RSV Mille R sportbike with upright handlebars and nearly naked bodywork. At its heart is a...

2005 Jeep Wagoneer.(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... In an attempt to keep up with the growing number of competitors and their ever-increasing size, the executives at Jeep will stretch their top of the line Grand Cherokee model and bring back a name from the company's past. Having added some...

2006 Buick "CTS".(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Buick is readying a new sedan for the 2006 model year that will use the chassis of the Cadillac CTS. Four doors, all-different styling and a Buick oval grille are highlights on the outside. Under the hood could be a V8 engine--they don't want...

2005 Chevrolet Corvette.(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... As production draws near for the '05 Chevrolet Corvette, sightings of that model are on the increase. The latest details to be revealed include a wide, unbroken opening in the front fascia that replaces the 2-section air intake of the current...

2005 Triumph Rocket III.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Reborn motorcycle maker Triumph has announced its intentions to become a major player in the industry. This intention is embodied in the Rocket III--a whopping big engine in an otherwise normal-size cruiser motorcycle. Three cylinders and 140...

2005 Audi A6.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Scheduled for debut in the middle of 2004, Audi's new A6 has lifted only a few styling cues from the Nuvolari concept car shown last year. Among other things, it shows a higher and wider front-end treatment. This sedan is the first model we'll...

2005 Saab 9-7.(Europe Spy Report)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Die-hard Saab aficionados predicted it was the beginning of the end when General Motors purchased the Swedish carmaker. No doubt they'll claim that the new Saab sport utility is solid proof that their most dire fears are coming true. And...

2005 Porsche Boxster Coupe.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... No, that's not a removable hardtop--Porsche is testing a coupe version of the Boxster. The idea is to reduce the entry-level cost of the car and make it more competitive with such entries as the Audi TT and the Nissan 350 Z. The engine probably...

Driving the future.(Jay Leno's Garage)
November 1, 2003... I don't often get to test drive a car before POPULAR MECHANICS's editors, but this time I did. Mercedes-Benz invited me to the company's Idiada proving grounds, near Barcelona, Spain, so I could be one of the first to drive the SLR coupe. I...

Trading faces: a controversial new transplant operation will let victims of horrifying injuries face the world.(Medicine)
November 1, 2003... Of all the misfortunes that can befall the human form, none is as devastating as the destruction of the face. Each year, accidents, diseases and birth defects rob thousands of the familiar symmetry of the nose, eyes, lips and ears that each of...

High beams: tactical flashlights give civilians SWAT-team candlepower.(Home Defense)
November 1, 2003... If it were a nightmare, you could wake up and it would be over. But this is worse. It's real and it's just beginning. That noise that startled you from a sound sleep can mean only one thing. There's an intruder in your home. If you're smart,...

Long-term test cars: we investigate a couple of new twists on old themes.(Update)
November 1, 2003... As the world's carmakers struggle to find new niches in order to gain a larger slice of the pie, vehicle distinctions grow more and more indistinct. Take the lines between station wagon, minivan and sport utility. What exactly differentiates...

Stealth strike force: America's top naval architects compete to build a new class of fast and deadly warship.(Defense)
November 1, 2003... It happened in an instant. One moment, a perfectly routine refueling operation was under way. The next moment, the crew of the USS Cole was struggling to keep the missile cruiser afloat. For the family and friends of the 17 sailors who died, it...

Diesel futures: forget the black soot and smoke. Modern diesel-powered cars are quiet, clean and fast.(Engines)
November 1, 2003... You would the 6-cylinder engine in the Mercedes E-Class V8 in the BMW 7 Series to be so smooth and quiet from the driver's seat that you'd have look at their tachometers to be sure that they were running. You would not expect that of a diesel,...

Rolling thunder: blazing new car stereo equipment is heating up road trips everywhere.(Car Audio)
November 1, 2003... It's not easy being a car audio engineer these days. You have to balance a fundamental commitment to sonic quality with consumers' ever-growing appetite for punishing sound. Add to that a shrinking amount of automotive real estate and the...

The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers.
November 1, 2003... Refrigerator care Maintenance Tips Maintenance will prolong the life of your refrigerator, reduce energy waste, and help eliminate unwanted odors/bacteria. Unplug your refrigerator when performing maintenance. Refer to your...

Three easy pieces: great-looking furniture that you can build with ordinary portable power tools.(Furniture Making)(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... It's easy to look at a well-crafted piece of furniture and wish you had all those heavy stationary tools to do the job. A 3-horse table saw would be the minimum, and then you'd need a big jointer, a floor-model drill press--hey, why not get...

Classic rocker: a timeless rocking chair that will give you years of pleasure.(Furniture Making)
November 1, 2003... Everyone loves a rocker--and it's easy to see why. This is a chair that's not designed for anything practical, like eating or working, but simply created for one purpose--relaxation. Combining a welcome break for tired feet and a gentle,...

Pure utility: a solid maple Shaker-style table that's simple to build.(Furniture Making)
November 1, 2003... The hallmarks of Shaker furniture are simplicity, utility, and a sense of craftsmanship that's nothing less than refreshing in today's world of shrink-wrap plastic and satellite TV. And, it's the rare woodworker who doesn't take up the...

Personal secretary: this handsome mahogany desk is beautiful and useful.(Furniture Making)
November 1, 2003... Back when letters were made of paper and ink and the word "mail" was complete without an opening "e," every home had a place to write. And while it may have been little more than a plain table with a drawer for supplies, the more upscale among...

Auto clinic.(Car Care)
November 1, 2003... Hissy Fit I have a slow leak in one of the alloy wheels on my SUV. It's coming from between the rim and the bead of the tire. I remember you showed how to clean the bead surface of steel wheels in your column a couple of years ago. I had...

Replacing u-joints.(Saturday Mechanic)
November 1, 2003... That vibration you've managed to ignore for weeks has finally gotten to the point at which it's hard to keep from spilling your morning coffee on your pant leg. You resolve to make two stops on the way home from work this afternoon--one at the...

Great stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own.
November 1, 2003... 1. Bada Bing Have you missed Tony and his minions since the last episode of "The Sopranos"? Well, HBO Video has come to the rescue with "The Sopranos: The Complete Fourth Season" on both VHS and DVD. The DVD collection comes in widescreen...

Sound of music.(Great Stuff)(DigitaLibrary DL-1000-S)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Pioneer is jumping into the home entertainment networking market with its DigitaLibrary DL-1000-S, a home media server/CD player that can distribute music, video, photos and Internet content, wirelessly or over wires, to just about any digital...

Cold front.(Great Stuff)(Cool Tool conversion kit )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If you're tired of looking at that ugly spare fridge in your garage, the Cool Tool conversion kit will transform it into a toolbox look-alike. The kit contains paint supplies, handles, and faux locks and drawer panels. The make-over takes about...

Pipe dreams.(Great Stuff)(Stinger Quad )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If you have a Corvette C5 or ZO6, Borla has an exhaust system for you. The new Stinger Quad is a mandrel-bent stainless steel rear section with a choice of two 4-tip systems. No. 140038, shown here, uses four polished 4-in. round tips. A...

High-buck flyer.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If you have an extra 22 grand jingling around in your pocket, check out this one-eightieth-scale model of the 1903 Wright brothers' Flyer. Constructed with over 200 parts, the model includes 5.73 ounces of 24-karat gold and 14-karat white gold...

Be still my heart.(Great Stuff)(iRobot's new Roomba Intelligent FloorVac)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... When we got a look at iRobot's new Roomba Intelligent FloorVac, we almost cried tears of joy. We began to daydream of never having to pick up another vacuum cleaner as long as we lived. The Roomba is a shiny, round robot that automatically...

How to navigate a minefield.(Worst-Case Scenarios)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... You're on a 2-week nature trek in Afghanistan, and you start walking toward some wildflowers off to your left. All of a sudden, a large animal appears and charges you. Then, KABOOM! The animal is obliterated. Uh-oh! You've wandered into a...