Cocktail Party Science: How it Works

In the fifth episode, we delve even further inside today's cutting-edge tech

Posted 03.24.2008 at 3:08 pm 5 Comments

Pleo the Lush John B. Carnett/iStock

Rip open a Pleo, get the run down on hybrids, and learn about the military's futuristic flying laser gun as Chuck Cage and the editors of PopSci take a behind-the-scenes tour of the third annual How it Works issue. Learn the stories behind the stories of some of the world's most sophisticated machines.

Download the episode here, or subscribe to the iTunes feed.

Previous Article: One Camera, 12,616 Lenses

Next Article: Google Hopes to Expand Wi-Fi

5 Comments

link to this comment

Bertram

03/25/08 at 9:23 am

Like many listeners and readers I suspect we all have had a passion since a young age about taking something apart and seeing how it works (whether or not you could then successfully get it back together is another discussion)

So, let's be honest here...any podcast that has a thoughtful discussion about how the next generation of car will work, what is actually going on in my flash drive and airborne "frickin' laser beams" is excellent. Kudos to the host and the editors of the magazine for an excellent, entertaining and education podcast. As a long time listener and a first time poster this new direction is a good one.

link to this comment

frakkintalos

03/25/08 at 3:48 pm

As a child, I took apart all my toys. There were circuit boards and wires everywhere. I love the photo of the skinned dino Pleo since it would probably be the first thing I would do to it.

Much praise to the host and editors. I love the bit about the photographer whispering sweet nuthings to the skinned Pleo to get the right pose.

link to this comment

Bertram

03/25/08 at 4:28 pm

Totally agree frakkintalos...I found that story of the photographer funny and disturbing as I imagined the house keeper coming downstairs and getting a look of "Wha?" on her face.

Also, kudos in the podcast for a "Real Genius" reference. When I read the magazine I was afraid I was going to be alone in immediately thinking, "airborne laser beams? Where is Val Kilmer!"

link to this comment

FireBreathingChicken

03/27/08 at 6:37 pm

I want to know more about the Volvo with the motors in each wheel. Can you do things with that you can't in a regular car? Such as parallel park? Or literally spin on a dime?

link to this comment

FireBreathingChicken

03/27/08 at 6:38 pm

How do you set the rating? I certainly didn't want to give it zero stars!