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Devices
Ever wondered how that thing works? Explore the inner workings of many common devices and inventions, as well as those that aren't so common, such as compasses, gyroscopes and bug zappers.
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Thank Goodness for Retractable Cords, Right?
They keep our miles and miles of unruly cords untangled and out of the way. But how do they work?
Chinese Robotic Sub Looks Like a Clown Fish
China's newest unmanned submersible isn't designed to be cute — it can go deeper underwater, stay under longer and maneuver more deftly than its predecessors.
Installation Begins on the 10,000 Year Clock
A massive solar-powered clock being constructed inside a mountain in Texas is designed to keep time for 10,000 years.
How Chemical Sensing Devices Work
Chemical sensing devices are not just for detecting radon gas and carbon monoxide. They can be used in hospitals, airports, even on the battlefield.
The Mosquito Alarm May Be Breaching Your Human Rights
That is, if you're under the age of 25 and your hearing's intact.
You Can Bejewel Your Prosthetic
Prosthetic limbs don't have to be dull utility pieces. They've been elevated to art status, and can be fantastic fashion statements.
Can drones be used in construction?
Small flying machines are already helping builders monitor construction projects.
What's a Cybathlon?
This is not your grandma's Olympics, and these are definitely not her prosthetics. Get ready for the Cybathlon in 2016. The technology for this competition is going to blow you away.
How Zambonis Work
All eyes are trained on you at halftime as you make slow sweeps across the rink, leaving sparkling smooth ice in your lumbering wake. The fans cheer. You tip your head slightly in modest acknowledgement. This is the life of the Zamboni driver.
How Millimeter Wave Scanners Work
If you've traveled recently, you probably raised your arms above your head and waited for a millimeter wave scanner to do its screening thing. During those 10 seconds or so, did you ever wonder exactly how the device produced your image?
What's the difference between backscatter machines and millimeter wave scanners?
Nope, these advanced imaging technologies are not the same. So whether you're concerned about privacy, safety or time as you're shuffling through the airport security line, we can tell you how these two types of scanners stack up against each other.
Why Isn't the U.S. on the Metric System?
You may think of the U.S., Liberia and Myanmar as the sad-sack metric losers. The truth, however, is a little more complicated -- sort of like remembering how to switch between pounds and kilograms.
How the Metric System Works
Ever heard of a little unit called a femtometer? Can you tell us how much you weigh -- in petagrams? We know you can't, so hurry up and start reading. We have work to do.
5 Things You Didn't Know About the Metric System
In most of the world, the metric system reigns supreme, and with its convenient prefixes and correlation of units, it's easy to see why the system caught on. But what don't you know about metric?
How Wind Tunnels Work
Wind tunnels are the unsung heroes of aerodynamics. Thanks to these breezy devices, we have safer planes, cars and space vehicles.They even provide some extreme fun for the adrenaline junkies among us. What's the deal with wind tunnels? Find out in this article.
Science and Nature: Fractals
Fractals produce fascinating and intricate designs. Browse through this gallery featuring pictures of a variety of fractals like Mandelbrot and Julia sets and find out why nature is loaded with fractals.
10 Innovations Nominated for 2010 Edison Awards
The American Marketing Association created the Edison Awards to honor inventors and their innovations. With many great ideas to choose from, what are some of the nominees for 2010?
10 Inventions by Thomas Edison (That You've Never Heard Of)
It's common knowledge that Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph, but did you know he also developed concrete furniture and a phone to communicate with the dead?
How the Edison Awards Work
The Edison Awards annually honor the best new, cutting-edge products, companies and business executives -- all in the name of the record-setting inventor, Thomas Edison. What exactly does it take to earn an Edison Award?
5 Amazing Innovations that Have Won Edison Awards
Every now and then, a new product bursts onto the scene, causing a sensation among consumers and leaving an indelible mark on a given industry. These amazing innovations are contenders for an Edison Award.
How LED Incapacitators Work
This nonlethal weapon doesn't cause any lasting damage, but it may cause you to pray to the porcelains gods if an officer shines one in your eyes long enough to subdue you.
What's a "thinking cap" -- and could it make me a genius?
You've probably been asked to put on your thinking cap before, but have you ever wondered what it looked like or what it does? This thinking cap may not make you smarter, but it could help you tap into previously unexplored abilities.
How fMRI Works
What if a scan could not only help diagnose diseases of the brain, but maybe even determine what we're thinking and feeling? A noninvasive fMRI test could do just that.
How Prosthetic Limbs Work
Your body is a remarkable piece of biological machinery, and your limbs are no exception. Did you ever wonder how prosthetic limbs are made and how they are controlled? And are scientists developing bionic artificial limbs?
Why are lobsters being used in new X-ray technologies?
Lobsters have one of the animal world's most unique vision systems. Researchers hope to apply that system to scanners that will make steel walls transparent.
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