Military

Explore the weapons and combat systems used by the armed services. A broad range of topics in the Military Channel includes tanks, aircraft, biological warfare and stealth technologies.

Topics to Explore

How Mercenaries Work

How Shotguns Work

How are terror alert levels determined?

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

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U.S. Military Dogs Usually Outrank Their Handlers

Members of the U.S. armed forces and their loyal dogs have always had a special relationship – so special that the canine usually outranks its handler. What's behind this military tradition?

By Nathan Chandler Nov 18, 2019 Military / Branches

Hypersonic Missiles Fuel New Global Arms Race

Hypersonic missiles, which could reach distant targets in a matter of minutes and wreak destruction with their own kinetic energy, are a potentially destabilizing threat to world peace.

By Patrick J. Kiger Jul 3, 2019 Military / Future Military

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Risk All to Save Lives

U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers routinely jump out of helicopters into dangerous waters, risking their lives to save others.

By Patrick J. Kiger Jun 20, 2019 Military / Branches

YOU Can Drive a Tank!

Tank Town USA is just one of a few places in the country where you don't have to be in the military to pay to drive a tank.

Military / Tanks & Fighting Vehicles

Oak Ridge, Tennessee: America's Secret Atomic City

The Manhattan Project built the city of Oak Ridge in rural Tennessee, where secret facilities produced uranium-235 for the atomic bomb.

By Patrick J. Kiger Apr 25, 2019 Military / Explosives

F-35As Put to the Test in First-ever 'Elephant Walk'

The U.S. Air Force showed its might during this unprecedented exercise. But why?

By Cherise Threewitt Nov 28, 2018 Aircraft / Modern

How Bulletproof Are Bulletproof Vests?

Without question, they save lives — but they aren't 100 percent failsafe.

By Jerad W. Alexander Oct 26, 2018 Military / Firearms

Half the World's Gun-related Deaths Occur in Just 6 Countries, Including the U.S.

All six countries are in the Americas.

By Dave Roos Sep 17, 2018 Military / Firearms

Recovered 'Lost Squadron' Plane Leads to New Mystery

The search team used a radar-equipped drone to locate a P-38 from the so-called "Lost Squadron" that crash-landed in Greenland in 1942. But the story doesn't end there.

By Patrick J. Kiger Sep 6, 2018 Aircraft / World War II

How Worried Should We Be About 3D-printable Guns?

The debate over the legality of 3D-printable guns rages on, but how big an issue will they turn out to be?

By Jerad W. Alexander Aug 3, 2018 Military / Firearms

From Military to Mainstream: The Evolution of the AR-15

The ArmaLite AR-15 rifle has become a hot-button issue in the American landscape. Where did the rifle originate and how did it become so controversial?

By Jerad W. Alexander Aug 1, 2018 Military / Firearms

What Are 'Low-yield' Nuclear Weapons?

The Trump administration wants to develop a new generation of low-yield nuclear weapons that could be used without launching an all-out nuclear war.

By Patrick J. Kiger Jul 24, 2018 Military / Future Military

Why Nerve Agent Novichok Is So Deadly

Exposure to this nerve agent in minuscule amounts is enough to kill several human beings.

By John Donovan Jul 10, 2018 Military / Biological Warfare

If Torture Doesn't Work, Why Do Governments Use It?

Torture was formally abolished in Europe in the 19th century, but reared its ugly head again in the 20th century. Why did it reappear and what is its future?

By Diana Brown Jun 26, 2018 Military / Soldiers

Growing Movement of Scientists Pushes for Ban on Killer Robots

The increasing interest in autonomous weapons around the world is alarming scientists, and there's a growing movement to halt the development of these weapons before the technology has a chance to proliferate.

By Patrick J. Kiger Apr 19, 2018 Military / Future Military

Trinitite: How the First Nuclear Bomb Turned Sand to Glass

Sand turned to glass at White Sands Missile Range. What do we know today about the remnants of the world's first nuclear blast?

By Mark Mancini Apr 13, 2018 Military / Explosives

U.S. Military Hopes To Save Injured Soldiers by Copying Tardigrades

Could a tiny creature called a tardigrade hold the key to slowing biological time, giving soldiers more opportunity to recover from life-threatening injuries?

By Patrick J. Kiger Apr 3, 2018 Military / Soldiers

Package Bombs Are Rare in the U.S., But Here's How to Spot One

Bombs are complicated to build so they aren't a common go-to method of madness for criminals. But would you know one if you saw one?

By John Donovan Mar 23, 2018 Military / Explosives

Does the U.S. Military Maintain Secret Underwater Bases?

Underwater military bases sound super-cool, but what are the odds they truly exist?

By Diana Brown Dec 12, 2017 Military / Stealth Technologies

NRA Insurance Protects Gun Owners Shooting in Self-defense

Self-defense is a hallmark of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But could self-defense insurance policies embolden a gun owner to shoot?

By John Donovan Dec 1, 2017 Military / Firearms

HowStuffWorks Illustrated: Two Legal Gun Modifications

HowStuffWorks explains two ways that gun owners are modifying their semi-automatic weapons to fire like automatic ones.

Military / Firearms

How the Navy Ship Comfort Is Aiding Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is finally getting much-needed aid after Hurricane Maria, and much of that is coming from USNS Comfort.

By Cherise Threewitt Oct 5, 2017 Military / Navy

What Is a Bump Fire Stock?

Bump fire stocks enable a shooter like Las Vegas killer Steven Paddock to fire a semi-automatic rifle at nearly the rate of an automatic. How do they work?

By Patrick J. Kiger Oct 5, 2017 Military / Firearms

Why Smoking Rates in the Military Are So High

New evidence shows that Big Tobacco specifically targeted U.S soldiers, because they were "less educated" among other reasons.

By Alia Hoyt Sep 5, 2017 Military / Branches

Is North Korea Equipped to Attack the United States?

In late July 2017, North Korea upped its threats the United States and its allies with nuclear strikes — and the U.N. responded with strict and overwhelming sanctions.

By Julia Layton & Sarah Gleim Military / Explosives