Giant Human-Powered Helicopter Flies as Young Engineers Meet “Impossible” Challenge
A human-powered helicopter could not fly, experts concluded. Then two young engineers proved them wrong and won a quarter of a million dollars in the process
The Return of the Propeller
The demand for shorter, cheaper flights is driving new research into turboprops
Watch the Record-Setting Flight of "Atlas," the Human-Powered Helicopter
"Atlas" soars to win flight competition, propelled by four giant rotors and an athletic designer pedaling a bicycle
Despite Safety Concerns, Enthusiasm for Self-Driving Vehicles
The promise of self-driving vehicles has brought with it high expectations and enthusiasm. But, we might not be quite ready to hand over the wheel.
Failure to Launch Is Always An Option
Do not try this at home. A Russian Proton-M launch goes wrong – and it can happen to anyone (wait for the shock wave). A rocket is a controlled bomb.
Motor Chills EV Drivers' Anxiety about Going the Distance
An air-conditioned cabin is the best way to drop a car's fuel efficiency on a hot day. This is true of electric vehicles (EV) as much as it is for gas-guzzlers.
Recent Lunar Discoveries Reveal a "New Moon"
Think you know about the Moon? I did, but then I started reading ‘The New Moon: Water, Exploration, and Future Habitation‘ (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and realized that my knowledge amounted to a teensy scrap of lunar dust.
China to Punish Carmakers Who Fail to Meet Fuel Targets
By Samuel Shen and Norihiko Shirouzu SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China said on Thursday it would punish carmakers by restricting their production and publicly naming them if they fail to meet fuel consumption requirements on passenger vehicles set for 2015.
Credits and Fines Allow Carmakers to Comply with Fuel Efficiency Standards
Cars, SUVs and pickup trucks sold in the U.S. are quickly becoming more fuel efficient, in large part because Federal rules require them to be.
A Personal Rapid Transit System for Raleigh Commuters?
We long ago lost the skill of paying for the things we need: I won’t bore you with the statistics of how far we are behind in our infrastructure investments.
Aerial Spying, 100 Years before Drones
Reported in Scientific American This Week in World War I: October 10, 1914 Drones are at the forefront of warfare in the 21st century. These unarmed and unpiloted aircraft, big and small, circle far above the battlefield, collecting images and reporting back to headquarters, electronically.
Submarine Exosuit Makes Its First Manned Ocean Dive
Editor's Note: Veteran science journalist Philip Hilts is working with a team of archeologists, engineers and divers off the shore of Antikythera, a remote Greek island, where a treasure ship by the same name sank in 70 B.C.