PopSci Presents: How It Works
Our seventh-annual special issue delves inside today's technology on the cutting edge—from an airborne military laser that melts its targets to the most advanced earbuds on the market—to answer the eternal question: How does that work?
Ever get the urge to rip apart sophisticated machinery to figure out what makes it tick? Us too. Below are the nine devices we tore open this year:
Volvo ReCharge Concept
A hybrid with motors in the wheels
Pleo
The toy dinosaur that thinks for itself
GEnx Jet Engine
A lightweight, fuel-sipping engine that will power Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner (with full exploded view)
Sayaka Endoscope Capsule
A pill camera that shoots movies of your gut (with video of the Sayaka in action)
Panasonic HDC-SD5
An HD camcorder that steadies shaky hands
Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser
A laser cannon that melts tanks from the air
Ultimate Ears UE 11 Pro
An earbud with a subwoofer inside
Micron 64GB Flash Disk
Flash memory that can take a dropkick
GeoEye-1
A satellite that can photograph home plate from 425 miles up (with interactive infographic)