August 2010 Issue

August 2010 Cover

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Features

The Loneliest Humanoid in America

Walking, self-contained, adult-size robots are commonplace in robotics labs in Japan and South Korea, but there’s only one made here. Why are we falling behind? By Jacob Ward

Rise of the Helpful Machines

The world’s most sophisticated robots don’t assemble trucks or cruise around Mars. They’re designed to support our surging population of elderly and disabled citizens. Meet 10 of the most promising senior-friendly ’bots. By Corey Binns

Concepts and Prototypes: A Flying Boat

To circumnavigate the world in a record-breaking 40 days, l’Hydroptère Maxi takes inspiration from the Wright brothers By Dawn Stover

Science Confirms the Obvious 2010

It might seem silly to investigate whether people are happier on the weekend, but behind such truisms are revelations about our brains, our behavior and our environment By Jason Daley

Cluttered Space

In orbit, debris as small as a metal screw can cripple a vehicle or kill an astronaut. Here are five ideas for cleaning up the growing band of trash circling Earth By David Kushner

Headlines

• Fighting Drugs With Drugs: A Psychedelic Drug Gains Legitimacy as a Solution for Addictions
• A Slick Fix: Oil-Eating Robots Could Mop Up Ocean Disasters
• Overachievers We Love: A Tricked-Out Fire Truck, A Beefier Bionic Hand and the Largest Cantilever
• Great White Sharks that Send Text Messages
• Submarine Genius Graham Hawkes Creates a Lightweight Leisure Sub

What's New

• The Goods: August 2010's Hottest Gadgets
• Liveblogging Life With the Wearable Vicon Revue Camera
• Gentlemen, Stop Your Engines
• It's About Time: Satellite Video Delivery That Finally Makes Discs Obsolete
• Fully Loaded: Kayak Fishing
• Tested: Interchangeable-Lens Compact Digicams

How 2.0

• You Built What?! A Backyard B-50 Bomber
• Gray Matter: A Not-So-Sweet Surprise
• Add a Remote Control to Any Project You Build, Large or Small
• Should I Buy a 3-D TV Yet?

FYI

• How Close Could a Person Get to the Sun and Survive?
• If Evolution had Taken a Different Turn, Could Dragons Have Existed?

Megapixels

• It's a Trap! Scientists Corral Atoms in a Major Step Toward Quantum Computing
• Largest-Ever Solar-Powered Boat Prepares for a World Tour

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