A collection of free, easy-to-understand articles, covering how things work, cutting-edge science, cool gadgets, and computers. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/index.html Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT Wind it up and watch it go... but how exactly does a clockwork toy turn winding energy into movement? Like this... http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-clockwork-works.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-clockwork-works.html Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT Imagine being able to print a little 3D model of your favorite football player or rock star! We're not quite there yet, but 3D printers are already available that can make simple model "prototypes" for design and engineering. Here's a quick introduction! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-3d-printers-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-3d-printers-work.html Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:30:00 GMT What's the world's best invention? If you're unlucky enough to lose a limb, you'd almost certainly cast your vote for prosthetics: replacement limbs that give you back your independence. Here's a simple introduction. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/prosthetic-artificial-limbs.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/prosthetic-artificial-limbs.html Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:50:00 GMT Environmentalism means caring more about the planet and the long-term survival of life on Earth. It means recognizing the planet's environmental problems and coming up with solutions (individually and collectively) that try to put them right. Which means what, exactly? http://www.explainthatstuff.com/introduction-to-environmentalism.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/introduction-to-environmentalism.html Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:00:00 GMT Car speedometers that float in the road in front of you... cellphones that automatically show maps of your local area... even Google searches that happen inside your glasses--these are all examples of augmented reality: using information from computers whenever and wherever we need it to enhance the way we interact with the real world. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-augmented-reality-works.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-augmented-reality-works.html Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT What makes an old-fashioned clock tick-tock? It's a timekeeping mechanism called the escapement, rocked back and forth at a precise rate by a swinging pendulum. If you've ever wondered how a pendulum clock works, here's your chance to find out! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-pendulum-clocks-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-pendulum-clocks-work.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT Lost? If you have a compass in your pocket, you can almost always find your way home. Here's how. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-compasses-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-compasses-work.html Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT Imagine being able to cook your dinner with nothing but sunlight. Sounds fun? It's more than that. In the developing world, solar cookers (which work by capturing sunlight and trapping its heat) have the power to change people's lives for the better. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/solar-cookers.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/solar-cookers.html Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT Everything living loves natural light! Wouldn't it be great if we could use more of it in our buildings instead of the sterile, artificial electric light we usually have to put up with? A relatively new idea called hybrid solar lighting (HSL) helps us do just that using fiber optic cables and and mirror dishes on your roof. Here's how it works! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/hybrid-solar-lighting.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/hybrid-solar-lighting.html Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:00:00 GMT Lost at sea? A bright burning flare could be just the thing to bring help in an emergency. What are flares and how do they work? Here's all you need to know about them. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/flares.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/flares.html Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:10:00 GMT Pedometers can help you get fitter by counting the steps you take and encouraging you to take a few more. Here's how they work. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-pedometers-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-pedometers-work.html Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:10:00 GMT Do you read me, over? Yes, over? There's a simple introduction to walkie-talkies on our website, over! Okay, over and out! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/walkie-talkies.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/walkie-talkies.html Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:10:00 GMT There are various technologies that make telephones easier to use if you have hearing difficulties. Here's a quick introduction. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/telephones-for-hearing-impaired.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/telephones-for-hearing-impaired.html Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:10:00 GMT Why are propellers called screws? Why are they twisted in that funny way? And who invented them? These are some of the questions we ponder in our new article on propellers. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-propellers-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-propellers-work.html Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:10:00 GMT How can computers help us turn product ideas into reality more quickly? Here's a simple introduction to computer-aided design (mainly for our younger readers). http://www.explainthatstuff.com/computer-aided-design.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/computer-aided-design.html Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:10:00 GMT Did you know that fitting a nose to your house can keep you warmer and save you money? It's not actually a nose, as such--it's a clever heat-exchange device called a heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system. It lets fresh air into your home without letting heat escape. Here's how it works. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/heat-recovery-ventilation.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/heat-recovery-ventilation.html Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:10:00 GMT Is your broken laptop heading for the trash can? Stop and investigate whether you can make a repair. You could save a fortune! http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-to-repair-laptops.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-to-repair-laptops.html Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:10:00 GMT Does your website run like a dog? That's not so bad if the dog in a question is a greyhound, but if your site is more like a tired old labrador, here are 10 simple things you can do to speed it up. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-to-speed-up-a-website.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-to-speed-up-a-website.html Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:10:00 GMT Do you know all the parts of a snowmobile and what they do? Well let me enlighten you... http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-snowmobiles-work.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-snowmobiles-work.html Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:10:00 GMT Tractors make farm work look really easy, thanks to all kind of handy features. If you don't know your hydraulic hitch from your power takeoff, here's a quick guide to the world of tractors (mainly for our younger readers). http://www.explainthatstuff.com/tractors.html http://www.explainthatstuff.com/tractors.html