Engineering
Engineering is the discipline of design and construction of mechanical devices, equipment, structures and public works systems. Topics include aircraft technologies, buildings, bridges, robotics and heavy machinery.
The World's Most Awe-inspiring Glass Buildings
10 Innovative Architects to Watch
16 World-Famous Architects and Their Impact
The Steepest Road in the World, Plus 9 Rival Inclines
Here's Longest Bridge in the U.S., Plus 7 Runners-Up
A Horrifying Russian Lathe Accident Highlights Vital Safety Protocols
How Zambonis Work
What Countries Use the Imperial System?
Are food-based plastics a good idea?
A Bicycle Built of Bamboo Is the Ultimate Eco-friendly Ride
Crumple Theory: We Can Learn a Lot From How Paper Crumples
Your Thoughts Could Activate a Tiny Robot Inside Your Own Brain
How Star Wars Works: Fan-built Droids
Robot Pictures
The Tallest Roller Coaster in the World Stood for 19 Years
Tallest Building in the U.S. and 13 Other Stunning Skyscrapers
What's the Largest Pyramid in the World?
Learn More / Page 2
I am entering a chemistry contest at my high school. The goal is to build the battery that produces the most watts for one minute. Our battery can't be bigger then 1 foot in any direction and can't use strong acids. What are the best chemicals to use, and what's the best design?
Whether they make you think of Hurricane Katrina or Led Zeppelin, levees are a critical safety feature for low-lying areas located near water. Why do they break?
Rail guns leave gunpowder-based weapons in the dust (one can hit a target 250 miles away in six minutes). So why isn't the military using them? Find out how rail guns can be used and learn about the limitations of this technology.
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With the help of Q, James Bond can breeze through a security system that requires the villain's irises, voice and handprint. Biometrics isn't just for the movies. Real-life businesses and governments are using it. Check it out.
It walks, it talks and it works as a receptionist. Honda engineers have been busy creating the ASIMO robot for more than 20 years, and it shows.
Safe, professional building implosions combine mathematics, intuition and sheer explosive power. Find out how the experts bring down huge structures without damaging the buildings nearby.
By Tom Harris
I've heard of bank robbers being foiled by a "dye pack" put in their money stash. What is a "dye pack"?
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A friend of mine told me that his watch flew off his arm and was sucked into the MRI machine at the hospital. Could this really happen? How strong are the magnets in an MRI machine?
When the heat sets in, there's nothing like a day at the water park to cool things down -- water parks and their massive wave pools are a huge weekend attraction. Ever wonder what kind of machinery it takes to produce a wave? Learn exactly how an oce
By Tom Harris
It's a leap of faith onto a curvy steep wet chute... Discover how water slides work and what draws thrill-seekers to them.
By Tom Harris
X-ray machines seem to do the impossible: They see straight through clothing, flesh and even metal, thanks to some very cool scientific principles at work. Find out how X-ray machines see straight to your bones.
By Tom Harris
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A robot and a human being are made up of the same basic components. And with each passing decade, robots become more lifelike. Find out how robots operate and the marvelous things they're already doing.
By Tom Harris & Chris Pollette
CAT scans take X-ray imaging to a whole new level. Find out how a CAT scan machine uses "slices" to form a 3-D computer model of a patient's insides.
By Tom Harris
The twin towers of the World Trade Center were true originals -- their history is one of innovation, persistence and grand ideas.
By Tom Harris & Yara Simón
Plastics can be shaped or molded into any form, and they're everywhere -- in your car, computer, toys and even bubble gum. But because they don't degrade, they cause big problems when it's time to throw them out.
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When pyramids come to mind, most of us think of Egypt, but pyramids exist in many parts of the world. How were they constructed without earth-moving or heavy-lift machinery? And most of all, why were these amazing structures built?
Robot armies could soon account for up to one third of all vehicles currently in service. Learn about robot armies and robot army development.
The Hoover Dam holds back 10 trillion gallons of water. That's enough to cover the entire state of Connecticut. How much damage would be done if the dam broke?
If you wanted to build a Great Pyramid in today's market, you would need to take into consideration a lot of factors. How much labor would you need? What about materials? And how much would it cost you?
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Domed cities would provide the same temperature year-round, no rain or snow, and the ability to go outside without worrying about a sunburn. Have they been tried before, and what about the people who enjoy their seasons?
Abandoned mine shafts may look romantic with their clapboarded entrances and rusting pickaxes, but they can be deadly. So who ensures that these dangerous sites are properly closed up? You may find the answer a little unsettling.
By Josh Clark
Steam technology powered the Industrial Revolution, transformed the global shipping industry and revolutionized modern warfare. But how do steam engines actually harness the power of steam?
By Robert Lamb & Yara Simón
Turning saltwater into tasty, drinkable H20 at desalination plants is probably the biggest-selling point of reverse osmosis, but let's back up a minute. What's osmosis, and why - and how - is reversing it useful to us?
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When it came to building or improving things, the ancient Romans really knew their stuff. Which cool engineering tricks did they pass along to us?
Pisa without its precariously tilted landmark is like San Francisco without the Golden Gate or London without Buckingham Palace. Will the peculiarly enduring tower ever vanish from the Italian skyline?