The modern skyscraper is one of the most extraordinary feats of human engineering. These cloud piercers have been built with steel since the beginning of the 20th century, but now some creative builders are starting to think outside the box. What if you made one completely out of wood? Is it possible? The answer is yes, and they are already being built.
Why cruise ships virtually never sink
During the heyday of sea travel, it was fairly common for ships to be lost at sea. Ships were vulnerable to the elements, and there are certainly a lot of dangers on the open water: A freak wave, a massive storm or even an iceberg. Now we have enormous cruise ships and it’s extremely rare to hear of one sinking. What makes these floating cities so unsinkable?
What does the world's largest machine do?
When you think of large machines, you probably picture a massive tractor or maybe an enormous science experiment. Think bigger — much, much bigger. How about the size of the entire United States? The world’s largest machine is actually the U.S. power grid and how it became one giant machine is an amazing story.
What is the smallest thing in the universe?
The universe is massive, filled with hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars 100 times larger than the sun. But what if we looked down instead of looking up? There are entire worlds all around us that we can’t see. The smaller we get, the crazier these worlds are. How small can we get, and what does the world look like from that perspective?
What exactly is terminal velocity?
We have all heard the old tale that if you throw a penny off the Empire State Building, it will drop so fast that it could kill someone on the street below. Is that true? Some people put it to the test. Check out what happens when pennies are dropped onto someone from a helicopter way up high.
The shocking complexity of concert tours
Who doesn’t love a good concert? The blaring music, the beautiful lights and the singing crowd. But the process of getting the band set up, the stage ready and the venue prepared is incredibly complicated. Dozens of man hours go into getting a show ready. If a band is big enough, they have a well-oiled machine to get it done.
The surprising way microchips are made
Almost every tech gadget we use in our daily lives has some sort of microchip inside it. TVs, thermostats and even toasters rely on microchips to work efficiently. Microchips are made using sand, but how do we go from a pile of grains to a tiny little computer? The answer? With a ton of work.
What a room looks like on a space hotel
The year is 2040 and you’ve just come into a huge amount of money. You know exactly what you want to do with it: Stay in the first-ever space hotel. You shell out the cash, get on a rocket and arrive at the hotel. You get to your room and open the door. What do you see? Well, it’s not your typical hotel room, that’s for sure.
A look inside the FBI’s encryption system
Encryption algorithms are used for security purposes in many facets of today’s world. We can use them to keep our messages private, send photos we want to keep discrete and hide our location. But did you know the FBI has its own encryption system that is virtually uncrackable? This complicated algorithm uses a unique system that no one has ever broken.
How high-tech running shoes got banned
Back in 2019, a marathon runner named Ediud Kipchoge accomplished something no one had before: He ran a marathon in under 2 hours. He did this wearing brand-new shoes designed by Nike. His incredible feat was immediately called into question, with critics claiming his shoes gave him an advantage. But they’re just shoes, right? How much impact can they really have? As it turns out, a lot.
An ATM glitch that gave one man infinite money
ATMs make getting cold hard cash from your bank account a breeze. Just pop in your card, click a few buttons and the cash is in your hand. But ATMs can make mistakes. Just ask the man who discovered a glitch that allowed him to withdraw a seemingly endless amount of money. So, how did he do it?
The weird history of Legos
Do you have memories of snapping together Lego bricks to make something special? Most of us think fondly of those plastic pieces. (Unless, of course, you stepped on one.) While the company has a wholesome image, it hasn’t always been that way. The real history of Legos is a lot darker than most people realize.
Using AI to create art with a one-word prompt
Artificial intelligence doesn’t just power our smart assistants and high-tech gadgets. It has all kinds of applications, including the creation of beautiful, original art. This is a fascinating look at how this technology works, and we’re sure AI’s creativity will blow you away.
Do these old-timey life hacks actually work?
When you think of life hacks, what comes to mind? Most likely it’s those viral videos that claim your life will be perfect if you just follow this one easy step! But the truth is people have been spreading these “life hacks” for hundreds of years. Here are 29 of the strangest ones throughout history.
Getting back at scam callers
Even with new laws and helpful apps, scam calls are still a problem — especially when it comes to older adults. Scammers often will stop at nothing to con someone out of their life savings. That’s why one man decided to get back at scammers through a call center in India, and it’s truly amazing.
How stenographers can type so fast
In 2005, Barbara Blackburn became the world’s fastest typist, hitting 216 words per minute. But stenographers can average 250 to 270 words per minute, far faster than the average person speaks. What’s the secret behind this super-fast typing speed?
Why the Coast Guard uses a zig-zag when doing search and rescue
The U.S. Coast Guard is an integral part of our military. It protects our beaches and coastlines from invasion or enemies, but it also helps find and rescue those lost at sea. You might be surprised to learn the technique it uses to do this. Let’s just say it’s not straightforward.
Why don’t we all have jetpacks?
Over 60 years ago, engineers developed the first personal flying backpack or jetpack. With all of the technological advances since then, why aren’t we all flying around the skies? There is a scientific reason why jetpacks are challenging to bring to fruition.
Your shirt may be able to check your heartbeat in the future.
Humans use clothes for protection from the elements, to show off wealth or status or generally just to express themselves. But, what if your clothes were able to do more? Scientists are working to develop a fabric that will be able to hear your heartbeat. What will this mean for future people’s health and wellness? It may just blow your mind.
Will you be able to upload your mind into a computer?
We, as humans, all have a few things in common. We are all born, live and die. But what if computers could change that? What if you were able to upload your consciousness to a digital world and live virtually forever? Is that something that will become a reality? If so, when?