• Cars

    The Parajet Skycar: From London to Timbuktu on Biofuel

    By Mike Spinelli Posted on 11.17.2008 13 Comments

    If you were wondering, Timbuktu isn't some mythical city with a skyline of emerald buildings housing a race of unicorn-men. It's a real place, situated in the west African country of Mali, a city historians cite as an intellectual and spiritual center of the 15th and 16th centuries. It's also some 3,700 miles from London. Keep that in mind when you consider a scheme to cover those miles in a car that looks like an Everglades airboat designed by Luigi Colani.

    Article Rating:
    11.15.2008 at 07:05pm - Comment by Starscream

    "Bond, James Bond" A gadget car Q would be proud of, such a cool idea using a paraglider as a basis for a flying car.

  • Entertainment & Gaming

    Fear and Loathing in the Online Office Suite

    By Tom Conlon Posted on 4.2.2009 11 Comments

    As part of my ongoing, personal economic bailout plan, this week I began tinkering around with a couple of the free, online office suites that are available. After all, why shell out a few hundred clams for Microsoft Office when others are giving it away for free? Unfortunately, after a week of getting to know Google Docs and Zoho Writer, here I am typing this week’s column from the comfort and safety of a bought-and-paid-for copy of Microsoft Word. Why? Because I came to realize something about myself over the course of this week: At 30 years old, I’m already an old fart. More on that later.

    Article Rating:
    11.15.2008 at 06:50pm - Comment by Starscream

    Very good article for if you want to use software not installed or unable to install on the HDD. But I am with everyone else open office is a brilliant counterpart to the Microsoft thuggery that we have grown use to. There is also gimp for a photoshop equivalent, maybe doesn't have the cushy interface of adobe but works. There is loads of open source software out there but its taking the time and the confidence to look. It would brilliant to be able to purchase a PC, thats it just the PC not the plethora of software that comes with Windows.

  • Cars

    Zero to 1,000 in 40 Seconds

    By Mike Spinelli Posted on 10.23.2008 13 Comments

    Back in 1997, RAF wing commander Andy Green proved breaking the sound barrier on land wouldn't destroy the universe. Now, a successor to the ThrustSSC, the jet car Green piloted a decade ago on Nevada's Black Rock Desert, is in the works. Target: 1,000 mph.

    Article Rating:
    10.29.2008 at 06:08am - Comment by Starscream

    The idea of this project is to be open source, the spec sheets and data will be available to anyone and anyone can contribute. if you think you design a hinge for an airbrake to operate at Mach 1.5 then submit it. The idea is get people involved so its not an isolated event. In Britain there is a distinct lack of scientists and engineers training. There are several land speed records that fall into different categories, this one is a free wheeling car (no power is fed to the wheels) Also britain is aiming for the steam car record a staggering speed of 170mph. So the Bloodhound is a car of sorts, it does have a V12 motor although that is just a pump engine!! I know we could be putting the time to better use but this is a team building exercise, getting people to work together for a common goal. Oh BTW the Thrust SCC was to have and ejector seat but was deemed to heavy so was scrapped, I think if this Bloodhound was to go wrong you wouldn't have much time to react!!

  • Cars

    Steaming Down the Road

    By Posted on 4.8.2009 3 Comments

    Ten years of toil for a ride lasting less than two minutes -- that's the trade a team of Britain's finest engineers, mechanics and speed junkies have made for a chance to break the century-old speed record for a steam-powered vehicle. Using propane to turn 10 gallons of water a minute into superheated steam, they expect their 25-foot-long Steam Car to top out at 170, shattering the record by more than 40 mph.

    Article Rating:
    10.28.2008 at 05:18pm - Comment by Starscream

    I have been keeping up to date with this. Its scary the idea of sitting with several pounds of pressurised gas at a few thousand degrees just behind your back oh and not forgetting the fuel involved too. British garden shed engineering at its finest :D

  • Gadgets

    Fluid Focus

    By Posted on 10.27.2008 12 Comments

    In place of glass lenses that move in order to focus, liquid optics uses a drop of water that changes shape when an electric charge is applied. The system is smaller and cheaper than glass and can supposedly focus faster. The tech recently appeared in the Akkord SnakeCam, a webcam sold in China. We brought one stateside and pitted it against two versions with glass lenses.

    Article Rating:
    10.28.2008 at 05:14pm - Comment by Starscream

    This a cool step forward in tech. I think a few years back they talking about this never thought it would become reality. This will soon be on all mobile (cell) phones, think of it, a phone with a zoom lens and 5+ MP camera. Who would need to carry around a compact camera again?



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December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

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