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Features

Inside Astronaut Boot Camp

What does it take to prep humans for a trip to an asteroid or a martian moon? Starvation? Isolation? Recycling feces for food? NASA's newest astronauts begin a grueling training regimen this fall to find out
By Dawn Stover

PopSci's Brilliant 10

For the weekend: our October 2009 issue which just hit newstands is now available in its entirety online. And before you dive in, take a quick video look at some of the stuff you'll find inside.

Features

The Race to 1,000 MPH

In the Black Rock Desert, a band of misfits is going up against the land-speed record holder to make history, and break the sound barrier—all while keeping the car and driver in one piece.
By Mike Spinelli

Meet the Asteroid Hunters

Our September issue has now been posted in its entirety--you can check it out here. As always, we'll continue to highlight articles from the issue online throughout the month, enhanced here with plenty of online-exclusive extras. Enjoy!

Features

The Future of Energy

From here to 2050: The Reality-Check Energy Guide; Which technologies will finally free us from oil?

While roller-skating technology has been successfully spiced up over the years (see Rollerblades and those funky off-road skates with the big wheels), this gem from PopSci´s September 1939 issue illustrates an innovation that didn´t quite catch on. A night at the rink may indeed have been hard on the lower back, even before roller-disco. But this third-skate seat extension (hockey stick not included) probably sent more people to the chiropractor than the â€Jungle Boogie.â€